£34m star explains why he rejected West Ham transfer for ‘dream move’

Authors: Dan Owen

Publisher:

GRV Media

Published: 8/14/2025

Language:English

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Tom Banks

Good morning 跑了松鼠好嘛, I'm Tom Banks, and this is Goose Pod for you. Today is Wednesday, August 27th.

Mask

And I'm Mask. We're here to discuss the £34m star Ardon Jashari and why he rejected a West Ham transfer for what he called a ‘dream move’.

Tom Banks

Let's get started. This is a classic tale of heart versus opportunity. Ardon Jashari, the Swiss midfielder, has officially joined AC Milan, and he couldn't be happier. He’s called it a "dream come true," not just for him but for his whole family.

Mask

A dream that cost Milan a reported £34 million. Jashari made it clear that from his first conversation with their director, Igli Tare, his mind was made up. He stated, "I only wanted AC Milan." Ambition is a powerful, and expensive, force in football.

Tom Banks

It certainly is. He acknowledged that the negotiations were tough because his former club, Club Brugge, knew his value. But that patience paid off. He feels the pressure at a club like Milan is normal and says it doesn't scare him. He's there to win.

Mask

As he should. Fear has no place in high-stakes environments. His primary objective, in his own words, is to "take AC Milan back to the top." A bold statement, but the only mindset that justifies that kind of price tag. Anything less is a waste of capital.

Tom Banks

And his journey here has been quite remarkable. He started at Luzern in Switzerland before a huge step up to Club Brugge in 2024. That transfer was for a reported €6 million, which was a record fee for Luzern. It shows how highly he was rated even then.

Mask

And he delivered on that potential immediately. In his first season at Brugge, he won the Belgian Cup, helped them finish second in the league, and played in the Champions League knockout stages. He was then named both the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year. That's not just talent; that's execution.

Tom Banks

Exactly! So you can see why Europe's bigger clubs came calling. West Ham is a great club, they won the Conference League and have big ambitions, but they were up against history itself. AC Milan are seven-time European champions. That name, that legacy, it carries a different weight.

Mask

Pedigree is a brand asset. West Ham’s interest was logical; they’ve pursued Milan-level talent before, like Fikayo Tomori. But logic doesn't always win against legacy. You can't build a century of history overnight. Milan has it; West Ham is still building it. Jashari simply chose the established brand.

Tom Banks

It's a powerful draw for any young player. To walk into the San Siro, to wear that famous red and black shirt... that’s the stuff of childhood dreams. It’s a reminder that football is still about passion and aspiration, not just contracts and numbers.

Tom Banks

The real conflict here was that West Ham did everything right. They identified a top talent and, according to reports, made a serious, eleventh-hour attempt to sign him. They presented a compelling project for a player to be a star in the Premier League.

Mask

But they failed to account for the variable of a "dream." A dream isn't rational. Jashari had already proven himself on the Champions League stage. He wasn't looking for a good project; he was looking for *the* project. He wanted an elite club, and in his mind, Milan was it. West Ham was simply outmatched by an emotional objective.

Tom Banks

And you also had the dynamic with Club Brugge. They weren't going to let their Player of the Year go without a fight. Jashari himself said he knew they "wouldn't let me go easily." That long, drawn-out negotiation created a window for his dream club to solidify their position.

Mask

It's a classic transfer triangle. The selling club wants maximum value, the buying club wants a deal, and the player has their own agenda. In this case, the player's relentless focus on one outcome dictated the entire negotiation. West Ham's bid was just leverage for everyone else.

Tom Banks

The impact is huge for everyone. For Jashari, it's the move of a lifetime. He steps onto one of the world's biggest stages. For AC Milan, it's a massive statement of intent, a significant investment they hope will anchor their midfield for years to come.

Mask

It’s a gamble, though. The media is already calling it a "$42.5M gamble" and a "divisive" move. The pressure to perform is immense. For West Ham, it's a clear failure. They lost their target and now have to pivot to alternatives, like Mateus Fernandes, with the clock ticking. It exposes a gap in their recruitment power.

Tom Banks

That's a bit harsh, isn't it? They still identified the right player. Sometimes you just can't compete with a dream. For Club Brugge, however, it's a huge win. They developed a player brilliantly and made a massive profit. That's a successful business model.

Tom Banks

Looking ahead, the big question is whether Jashari can handle the pressure and live up to that enormous price tag at Milan. He has the talent, but the San Siro is a demanding place. He wants to bring them back to the top, and now he has to deliver.

Mask

And West Ham must be decisive. Their entire midfield strategy depended on a player they couldn't sign. Their ability to secure their next target, Mateus Fernandes, will define the success or failure of their entire summer transfer window. They cannot afford to miss again.

Tom Banks

That's the end of today's discussion. A player's dream move to a legendary club ultimately won the day. Thank you for listening to Goose Pod.

Mask

See you tomorrow.

## West Ham United Miss Out on Ardon Jashari as Midfielder Seals "Dream" AC Milan Transfer **News Title:** £34m star explains why he rejected West Ham transfer for ‘dream move’ **Publisher:** GRV Media **Author:** Dan Owen **Published At:** 2025-08-14 18:00:00 This news report details West Ham United's failed attempt to sign midfielder Ardon Jashari, who ultimately completed a transfer to AC Milan, describing it as his "dream move." ### Key Information: * **West Ham's Interest:** West Ham United had expressed significant interest in Ardon Jashari, a rising talent in European football, and held talks with his then-club, Club Brugge, as early as May. * **Jashari's Rejection:** Jashari rebuffed West Ham's advances, making an "eleventh hour attempt" to secure his signature at the end of June. * **Reason for Rejection:** Jashari explicitly stated that he only had eyes for "a top club in one of the major leagues" and that his "will" was to play for AC Milan. He described the move to Milan as a "dream come true." * **AC Milan Transfer:** Jashari has now officially transferred to AC Milan for a reported fee of **£34 million**. He expressed his excitement and gratitude for the welcome he has received at the Italian club. * **Milan's Pedigree:** The report highlights AC Milan's "continental pedigree" as a seven-time European champion and a Scudetto winner as recently as 2022, a level West Ham "simply cannot match." * **Jashari's Perspective:** Jashari emphasized that from the "first contact with Milan," it was clear he wanted to join them. He acknowledged the long negotiation process and the need for patience, as Club Brugge considered him important. * **West Ham's Alternative Target:** With the transfer window nearing its close, Mateus Fernandes is now reportedly at the top of West Ham's midfield wishlist. He was noted for an impressive performance in a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium in April, described as bringing "intensity, desire, and fight to win" along with "talent, guile, and creativity." ### Numerical Data and Context: * **£34 million:** This figure represents the reported transfer fee for Ardon Jashari to AC Milan. It also serves as a benchmark for the player's perceived value. * **2022:** This year marks the most recent time AC Milan won the Scudetto (Italian league title), underscoring their recent success and historical standing. * **Seven-time European champions:** This statistic refers to AC Milan's numerous successes in European club competitions, most notably the UEFA Champions League, highlighting their elite status. * **End of June:** This timeframe indicates when West Ham made their final attempt to sign Jashari. * **May:** This month is when West Ham reportedly initiated talks with Club Brugge regarding Jashari. * **April:** This month is when West Ham scouts observed Mateus Fernandes' performance. The report concludes by noting that West Ham's focus has shifted to Mateus Fernandes as they continue their search for midfield reinforcements.

Read original at GRV Media →

A midfielder seemingly high on West Ham United’s summer wishlist has just secured himself a ‘dream’ transfer. Unfortunately, it was not the London Stadium he was pining for.Long before West Ham held talks with Aston Villa for the now-Newcastle bound Jacob Ramsey, and some six weeks before Southampton rejected that £30 million Mateus Fernandes bid, attempts were made to lure one of the rising talents of European football to the capital.

Though West Ham United’s admiration for Ardon Jashari would not be reciprocated by the then-Club Brugge playmaker.Now, this was to be expected, really.Jashari rebuffed West Ham’s advances after the 2023 Conference League champions made an eleventh hour attempt to turn his head at the end of June, per The Mirror’s Ryan Taylor.

By that point, Milan’s new £34 million man had made his plans clear. Having shown last season that he belongs on the Champions League stage, Jashari only had eyes for ‘a top club in one of the major leagues’.Photo by DIRK WAEM/Belga/AFP via Getty ImagesArdon Jashari explains West Ham snub as he seals AC Milan transferNow, Milan may not be the same formidable force of old.

But, seven-time European champions and Scudetto winners as recently as 2022, even a Rossoneri side at rock bottom possess the kind of continental pedigree West Ham simply cannot match.For the first time since belatedly completing a transfer which was weeks in the making, Jashari spoke to the press and explained exactly why all other approaches were tossed aside.

The confidence of Milan director Igli Tare – he said Ardon Jashari’s ‘will’ was to play at San Siro in that famous red and black shirt – was clearly not misplaced.“My feelings about this club are incredible,” the former FC Luzern captain told Tuttomercatoweb during his official unveiling. “It’s a dream come true, not just for me but also for my family.

I’ve only been here a short time, but I’ve received a great welcome from everyone. “I’m settling in well. It’s an honour to be here.”Jashari ‘only wanted Milan’ when deciding to leave Club BruggeIt was claimed as far back as May, via The West Ham Way, that talks had taken place between the Hammers and Club Brugge.

There was only one club the 23-year-old Switzerland international had in mind, however, when informed of Milan’s interest for the very first time.“Everyone knows it was a long negotiation. But, from the first contact with Milan, it was clear that I wanted to come here,” adds Jashari, who will be hoping to make a bigger impression with the Rossoneri than another Club Brugge export in Charles de Ketelaere, now at Atalanta.

“I knew it wouldn’t be easy because I was important to Club Brugge and they wouldn’t let me go easily.“Patience was needed. Tare always told me he’d do everything he could to bring me here. Even though other clubs came, I only wanted Milan. Now we’re all happy.“It was a great season with Club Brugge, and I wanted to finish it on a high note, without worrying about the rumours.

As soon as it finished, my agent told me that AC Milan could be an option. While I was on vacation, he told me about AC Milan’s interest, and then I spoke to Tare about the project. “Now, my dream has come true.”With just over a fortnight left before the window closes, Mateus Fernandes is the new man sitting at the top of the club’s midfield wishlist.

Graham Potter saw the Southampton schemer in action during April’s 1-1 draw at the London Stadium. An impressive, typically all-action performance from a man who, to quote ex-Saints boss Russell Martin, would bring with him ‘intensity, desire, and fight to win’ as well as his ‘talent, guile, and creativity’.