Jose Fonte is set to leave West Ham United, just a year after he moved to the London Stadium from Premier League rivals Southampton.
And just over a year on, the Portuguese centre-back could already be on his way out. Because the Daily Record has claimed on Thursday morning that Fonte has agreed a deal to sign for Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang.
It is understood that Fonte will sign a three-year deal with the newly promoted side and will cost about £4.8 million.
The fact that Fonte’s value has dropped by almost half in the space of a year is perhaps indicative of just how disappointing he has been at West Ham. The 34-year-old was seen as one of the Premier League’s most reliable defenders at Southampton but has looked a shadow of his St Mary’s best in claret and blue.
It is telling that, since David Moyes replaced Slaven Bilic in November, Fonte has not played a single minute for the first-team. He has only been an unused substitute on three occasions too during the Scot’s reign.
And, before Christmas, West Ham’s co-owner David Sullivan sensationally claimed that his children begged him not to sign the veteran centre-back, who won Euro 2016 with Portugal.
Sullivan might wish that he had listened. Because, after just 24 Premier League appearances, Fonte is set to leave for £3.2 million less than West Ham paid for him.
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