Mexico international Javier Hernandez has agreed to a deal that will send him back to La Liga, this time with Sevilla in a deal worth €8 million over three years with €1.5m in incentives, according to ESPN FC sources.
Mexico’s all-time top scorer had been the subject of interest from MLS clubs, Brazilian side Flamengo and Fiorentina, but opted to stay put in London despite the fact that West Ham signed Switzerland international striker Albian Ajeti, 22, from FC Basel on a four-year deal on Aug. 8, the final day of the Premier League transfer window.
The 31-year-old striker known as “Chicharito” scored in a 1-1 draw against Brighton earlier this month but has seen limited participation with the club. He last played in La Liga with Real Madrid on loan from Manchester United during the 2014-15 season before signing with Bayer Leverkusen, where he spent two seasons.
The Mexico forward will reinforce a Spanish club that have won two and drawn one match so far this season. Sevilla had earlier sent Wissam Ben Yedder to Monaco in a deal worth €40m. Hernandez, however, will be fighting for a first-team spot with recent arrivals Luuk de Jong and Munas Dabbur.
He had been considering leaving West Ham earlier in the summer and the club had even set a price of between $10 and 15m for his services, as he only has one year remaining on his contract. However, the situation changed following the departures of Marko Arnautovic, Lucas Perez and Andy Carroll and it seemed as though Hernandez would stay put.
West Ham also signed Sebastien Haller in a record deal to bolster their attack, but Manuel Pellegrini had expressed confidence in Hernandez and handed him the No. 9 shirt.
The former Real Madrid and Bayern Leverkusen striker had been linked with MLS for years. Chicago Fire, Inter Miami and Austin FC are some of the clubs that have been mentioned in recent times, but sources stressed to ESPN FC that the Guadalajara native is more focused on football than ever following the birth of his daughter and is planning to extend his career in Europe for at least three more seasons.
ESPN FC’s Tom Marshall contributed to this report.