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Football London
Football London
Sport
Jonty Colman

West Ham summer signing set for Lens pre-season reunion after PSG switch

West Ham United re-signed goalkeeper Alphonse Areola permanently this summer following his 2021/22 loan spell at the London Stadium.

While the French 2018 World Cup winner only made one appearance in England’s top-flight last term, he was the Hammers’ goalkeeper in the cup competitions and helped David Moyes’ side reach the semi-finals of last season’s Europa League, making 18 appearances in all competitions, 11 of which were in Europe.

Areola rejoined the Irons permanently this summer, having previously played the duration of the 2019/20 season with Fulham in England’s top-flight.

READ MORE: How David Moyes could set up if West Ham complete Gianluca Scamacca and Filip Kostic transfers

Areola’s permanent exit from Paris Saint-Germain ended a 16-year association with the club, although he only made 107 appearances for the club’s first team, leaving on loan six times, including stints with Real Madrid, the Hammers and Fulham.

The goalkeeper’s first loan exit came in the 2013/14 season, dropping down to Ligue 2 to join Lens on a season-long loan. While with Lens, Areola played 35 times in France’s second tier, keeping 12 clean sheets to help Lens earn promotion back to France’s top-flight. Off the back of that loan, he never played outside the top-flight out either France, Spanish or English league football.

Areola could be on the brink of a reunion to his former club this weekend, with the Hammers travelling France for their final friendly of the summer against Lens. However, first-choice stopper Lukasz Fabianski may get played ahead of him.

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