Watkins, Trippier react to Kyle Walker-Peters West Ham message – ‘It’s time’
Ollie Watkins and Kieran Trippier have reacted to a new message from Kyle Walker-Peters after he made the move to West Ham ahead of the new season.
Walker-Peters came through Tottenham’s academy as a youngster to make 24 appearances for their first-team between 2017 and 2020.
He joined Southampton in 2020 after an initial loan spell on the south-coast, and he became one of the most reliable right-backs in the Premier League during his five years at the club, even winning two England caps in 2022.
Walker-Peters left Southampton at the end of his contract in June, and a list of suitors began queuing up for his services following his exit, with Football Insider previously revealing that both Everton and West Ham were interested in signing Walker-Peters.
The 28-year-old’s move to Besiktas fell through earlier this month after the Turkish giants pulled out of the deal, but he found a new club soon enough as West Ham signed Walker-Peters on a three-year deal on Sunday, 20 July.
Walker-Peters sends message to West Ham fans
Walker-Peters had also been linked with a return to Tottenham, but he has now joined their East London rivals as Graham Potter aims to overhaul and bolster his lacking squad.
The 28-year-old took to Instagram on Tuesday (22 July) to send a message to Irons supporters following his move, saying: “Hammers, it’s time to work!” alongside the hammer and pick emoji that is synonymous with their club.
His post was reacted to with likes from Watkins, Trippier, Dele Alli, Tosin Adarabioyo, Dom Solanke and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, among others, while Abdul Fatawu replied saying: “Let’s goo.”
Walker-Peters is a solid signing for West Ham
Football Insider verdict
Walker-Peters was a loyal servant to Southampton after he first joined the club on loan from Tottenham in January 2020, with over 190 appearances in red and white in the five years that followed.
He chose to remain with the Saints when they were last relegated to the second-tier, but this time around he has understandably moved on, with his pedigree and talent enough to earn him another top-flight move to the London Stadium.
Irons boss Potter will be very pleased to get his signing over the line, after Spurs, Everton and Besiktas were all linked, and he is set to be a very solid option in his squad as a back-up to Wan-Bissaka at right-back.
| Appearances | 33 |
| Assists | 2 |
| Pass completion % | 88.2% |
| Progressive carries per 90 | 3.52 |
| Clearances per 90 | 2.78 |
The 28-year-old could even force his way back into the England reckoning with some strong performances, but his game-time may well be limited due to Wan-Bissaka’s presence, after the former Man United man won the Hammers’ Supporters Player of the Year award for 2024/25 [West Ham].
West Ham have recently moved to bolster their left-back options too, with El-Hadji Malick Diouf brought in for £19m from Slavia Prague, and so Potter will be feeling a lot more confident regarding both positions than what he likely was last month.