West Ham United manager David Moyes has reflected on Sebastien Haller’s time at the club.
Sold in January 2021 in a somewhat surprising move to Dutch giants Ajax, the Ivory Coast international has since established himself as one of Europe’s leading strikers.
So far this season, it is Haller who leads the way in the Champions League scoring charts, bagging 11 times in 7 games.
While it would be a touch harsh to suggest Haller completely flopped in east London following his big-money move from Eintracht Frankfurt, Michail Antonio’s emergence as the club’s first-choice striker made him an expendable figure in the squad.
In total, Haller scored 14 goals in 54 appearances during his time with West Ham, offering little indication he would emerge as such a prolific forward on the biggest of stages.
Speaking to the club’s official website having seen Haller score once again as Ajax dew with Benfica, Moyes talked fondly of his former player.
“Probably Seb played as big a part in us staying in the division as anybody,” he said.
“His goals were really important in the games if you look at them, so we thank Seb but he had a great opportunity.
“Ajax were in the Champions League and it hadn’t all been plain sailing or for him here, so we got the money for him which we thought was correct and it was a move that suited us as the time, so he moved on.
“But I always thought he had all the abilities to make goals and score goals and he’s gone on to prove that. He’s a good lad, Seb, and we wish him well.”
