Key Points
- Player Target: West Ham United are closing in on a season-long loan agreement for 18-year-old Manchester City attacking midfielder Divine Mukasa.
- Transfer Structure: The proposed transfer is structured as a straight loan with no option or obligation to buy included in the terms.
- Experience: Mukasa spent the second half of last season on loan with Leicester City, making 15 Championship appearances and scoring two goals alongside three assists.
- Senior Debut: The England youth international made his senior debut for Manchester City during the 2025–26 season, generating an assist in a 2–0 victory over Huddersfield Town in the EFL Cup.
- Academy Homecoming: The deal marks a return to East London for Mukasa, who spent ten years in West Ham’s youth setup between 2013 and 2023 prior to signing for Manchester City.
London (East London Times) August 20, 2026 — West Ham United are closing in on an agreement to sign Manchester City midfielder Divine Mukasa on loan until the end of the season.
As reported by Standard Sport, West Ham are nearing a deal to secure the 18-year-old talent on a straight loan with no buy option clause. Manchester City have authorized the move, allowing the youngster to finalize terms and undergo his medical evaluation ahead of the official announcement.
Why are West Ham pursuing Divine Mukasa from Manchester City?
As reported by Malik Ouzia of Standard Sport, West Ham United have focused their transfer market efforts on strengthening their attacking options behind the frontline, identifying Mukasa as a primary mid-field candidate.
The 18-year-old attacking midfielder previously spent a decade within West Ham’s youth academy from 2013 to 2023, playing an instrumental role in their U18 Premier League South title triumph before departing for Manchester City.
As reported by Fabrizio Romano via social media, terms have been agreed between all parties for a straight loan arrangement containing no option for a permanent transfer. Manchester City gave formal authorization for Mukasa to travel and undergo his medical assessment following direct negotiation between the clubs.
As reported by ExWHUEmployee of The West Ham Way, West Ham’s decision-makers viewed a loan move for Mukasa as an ideal low-risk solution to add technical versatility across attacking midfield and wide roles. Having recently added striker Joel Piroe to their squad, manager Nuno Espírito Santo approved the pursuit of Mukasa to bolster depth across the front line.
How has Divine Mukasa performed since joining Manchester City?
As reported by George Overhill of Ibrox News, Mukasa moved from West Ham United to Manchester City’s academy in the summer of 2023, quickly establishing himself within City’s youth ranks and earning multi-year professional extensions.
As reported by the official Manchester City club media, Mukasa made his senior debut for Pep Guardiola’s side on 24 September 2025 during a 2–0 victory over League One side Huddersfield Town in the EFL Cup third round, where he registered an assist for Phil Foden’s opening goal. Over the course of the 2025–26 season, Mukasa made six first-team appearances across all competitions for Manchester City before gaining further experience on loan.
As reported by Henry Winter for Manchester City media, Mukasa was sent on loan to Leicester City for the second half of the 2025–26 EFL Championship campaign in February 2026 to secure regular senior exposure. During his stint at King Power Stadium, the midfielder recorded 15 league appearances, scoring two goals and providing three assists.
Explore More West Ham United News
West Ham Eye Ambitious Ernest Poku Transfer in East London 2026
Burnley and West Ham Target David Brooks Swoop London 2026
Background of the development
Divine Mukasa’s pathway through English academy football established him as one of the country’s prominent youth prospects in his age bracket.
After entering West Ham United’s youth system at the age of five in 2013, he progressed through the U15, U16, U18, and U21 developmental tiers over a ten-year spell in East London. His academy tenure reached a high point when he scored the winning goal against Arsenal to secure the U18 Premier League South title for West Ham.
In September 2023, Mukasa opted to leave West Ham to sign a contract with Manchester City. His progress in Manchester led to his senior debut in late 2025 and international call-ups across England youth levels, including England U16, U17, U18, and U19 teams.
To safeguard his long-term valuation while facilitating senior match exposure, Manchester City agreed to a long-term contract extension running through 2030 prior to approving further loan spells.
Prediction: How will this development affect West Ham United and its supporters?
The arrival of Divine Mukasa on a straight loan provides immediate squad depth for West Ham United without long-term financial commitments.
For West Ham supporters, the return of a homegrown academy prospect who achieved previous success at youth level brings a familiar profile into Nuno Espírito Santo’s squad during a congested fixture period.
Mukasa’s ability to operate central attacking midfield roles and wider positions gives West Ham operational flexibility when rotating starting lineups.
However, because the loan agreement lacks an option to purchase, any top-level performance from Mukasa during the season will primarily benefit Manchester City’s long-term player evaluation or resale value upon his return to the Etihad Stadium.
