Former Blues midfielder Flynn Downes has completed his move from Swansea City to West Ham United, a deal which will yield Town a seven-figure sum.

The 23-year-old has moved to the Hammers, the club he supported as a boy, for an initial £9 million with the fee potentially climbing as high as £14 million according to some reports.

Town sold the academy product to the Swans for £1.4 million a year ago with the sell-on clause we understand to be be 20 per cent of profit.

That will see the Blues yield a figure around £1.5 million - although in the manner of most transfers in instalments - with further cash due later on down the line as and when clauses are triggered.

“It’s a surreal feeling to have joined my boyhood club,” Downes, who has signed a five-year contract, told the Hammers official website. “I feel like I’m dreaming.

“It’s been my dream since I was a little boy to join this club - it’s an absolute privilege. This is my club, so I couldn’t be more delighted. I’m glad to be here and I can’t wait to get started.

“I want to be the best I can be and this feels like the perfect opportunity to test myself against the very best players in the Premier League.

“Players have come to West Ham from the Championship and progressed to international honours. That’s something you can’t ignore.

“The manager’s track record of bringing players through was a big motivation in me joining the club. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be a West Ham player.”

West Ham boss David Moyes added: “We are pleased to have signed Flynn and are looking forward to bringing him into the group.

“We think he's got good energy. We think he's got a lot of things which we have about our team, which we would want to keep and want to add to. I'm looking forward to it.

“We brought Jarrod Bowen from a similar situation at Hull, so we're always trying to find boys from the Championship who we think are going to step up to become Premier League players.

“I'm hoping that Flynn does. I think there's a good chance as he's got an awful lot of good attributes.”

The Hammers, who beat off a challenge from Crystal Palace to land the Brentwood-born schemer, held a long-term interest in Downes with TWTD having reported in March 2020 that the East Londoners were keeping tabs on the former England U19 international.

Town already has a significant transfer war chest prior to the Downes windfall following last year’s takeover and, as reported earlier in the week, have made a £1 million move for Leeds left-back Leif Davis.

The 22-year-old has been named on the bench for a Whites XI facing Blackpool in a friendly this evening.

We understand Leicester striker George Hirst, who we revealed in May was among the frontmen interesting the Blues, is also now very much a firm target.

Photo: Matchday Images

Trequartista added 19:40 - Jul 7 *seven-figure sum
1

PhilTWTD added 19:46 - Jul 7 Indeed, just noticed and amended.
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ringwoodblue added 20:02 - Jul 7 If he can emulate the likes of Declan Rice or Jarrod Bowen, then it will be a surprise to me but I wish him well and look forward to seeing him on MOTD.
2

ImAbeliever added 20:18 - Jul 7 Thought he was destined for top level since he came back from season loan to Luton. Had difficult times with various managers for whatever reasons. Personally, I wish him endless success and look forward to seeing him playing against us in the Prem, thrashing WHU of course.
10

Suffolkboy added 20:36 - Jul 7 Well done indeed FD ! The talent is there , the energy is there , the skills are there and developing and this is a significant chance in your career to bring everything together and become a top player !Go for it ! COYB
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Wooly74 added 20:51 - Jul 7 Over rated and a complete hot head. I think he will get sent off as many times as he scores!
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MattinLondon added 20:58 - Jul 7 Best of luck to the lad. He has done very well for himself - the staff who helped to develop him as a kid should be very proud of themselves.
4

chepstowblue added 21:19 - Jul 7 'Surreall' sums it up Flynn. If this lad is worth 14mill then we've got one or two in our current squad worth 20mill. I'll be staggered if I see his name on the team sheet, and donate £1 to my favourite animal charity every time he touches the ball. He looked out of his depth at Swansea. This transfer has dropped my jaw. Extraordinary
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gpstracker added 21:26 - Jul 7 Quick loan to another Championship club.
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bluelad7 added 21:50 - Jul 7 Quick loan to us?
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Karlosfandangal added 22:58 - Jul 7 The inflated price of the Premier league. even if he had been brilliant at Town we might have got £4 million for him.
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Karlosfandangal added 22:58 - Jul 7 The inflated price of the Premier league. even if he had been brilliant at Town we might have got £4 million for him.
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Mariner1974 added 00:17 - Jul 8 Of course we'd have been unlikely to have got £12 Million for a player not playing in the Championship, but the fact that Paul Cook had him training in the Under '23's less than a year ago, shows what a clueless foghorn of a demolition man he is and was. Ditch all the old guard, but don't give a chance to the academy lads to mould them around all the players you wanted to bring in. Still annoys me that we let him, Downes, Dozzell, Bishop and Lankester go. Yeh you can all say that Downes wanted out, but if McKenna had been in at the start of last season, and with an arm around him we could have had Downes playing and learning alongside Sam Morsy. Demolition man who then comes back and takes Dobra and Clements from the Academy that he had zero interest in when he was here.

3

USA added 06:47 - Jul 8 Hmm. Who's judgement do I think is correct? David Moyes or Chepstowblue. I'd say prepare to get your wallet out Chepstowblue. He never looked out of his depth at Swansea and the general consensus is he had an outstanding season in the Championship.
5

pg888 added 07:54 - Jul 8 Cook was 100 percent right to banish Downes to the U23s. Quite why anyone wishes a walking red card who downed tools and openly disrespected our club well needs theirs heads examining. Just as long as he leaves his pram full of toys at Swansea he will be fine.
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Help added 07:56 - Jul 8 See you on Tuesday then ?
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brian_a_mul added 08:12 - Jul 8 Best of luck Flynn. More interested now in bid for Leif Davis and Hirst. C'MON!!
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Linkboy13 added 08:57 - Jul 8 Wooly Didn't get sent off at all last season. Another sour grapes supporter. Best of luck Downo.
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dirtydingusmagee added 09:25 - Jul 8 ex Town player, only interest in it is out cash to come, Just want to see a decent striker come in soon .Then get the heads down and get out of this league, it has to happen this year.
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BlueBlood90 added 09:26 - Jul 8 Not remotely interested how he does there and don't particularly wish him well either. His actions towards our club who developed him from a very young child to professional footballer still doesn't sit well with me.
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itfcasual added 13:55 - Jul 8 I hope West Ham lose.
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