David Moyes’ tenure at West Ham United was a period of highs and lows. While the Scotsman earned praise for guiding the club to European glory in 2023, his final years were marred by questionable transfer decisions that have left the club paying the price, particularly in the case of Danny Ings.
Ings, signed in January 2023 from Aston Villa for £15 million, quickly became one of the worst transfer investments made by Moyes. At the time, West Ham were in need of attacking reinforcements, but the 30-year-old striker, who had struggled with form at Villa, was not the answer. Ings had previously admitted that his first season at Villa Park was underwhelming, where he managed just seven goals in 30 appearances. Despite his pedigree, including a successful spell at Liverpool, it was clear that his best years were behind him when Moyes decided to bring him to the London Stadium.
Ings’ time at West Ham has been disappointing from the start. In his first six months with the club, he managed to score just two goals in 17 Premier League appearances. During the 2023/24 season, his situation worsened. He started just three league matches and scored only once, against relegated Burnley. His lack of impact was a clear indication that the £15 million investment was turning into a major waste of money. As the club’s top scorer, Michail Antonio, remained the preferred striker, Ings found himself on the fringes of the squad.
The sharp decline in Ings’ form and playing time has led to a significant drop in his market value. According to Football Transfers, Ings is now valued at just €1.8 million (£1.5 million), a staggering decrease from the £15 million West Ham paid for him just 18 months ago. This sharp depreciation in value reflects his inability to contribute effectively to the team. His contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and with his current value so low, it seems unlikely that West Ham will be able to sell him in January. If they fail to offload him, the club could be forced to release him next summer, having wasted both money on his transfer fee and wages.
Moyes’ decision to sign Ings highlights one of the key criticisms of his transfer business during his final years at the club. Despite his previous success, including securing a European spot for the club, his signings in the latter part of his tenure were often uninspired. James Ward-Prowse, another high-profile signing in the summer of 2023, failed to live up to expectations, leading to his loan move to Nottingham Forest. Kalvin Phillips, another acquisition, arrived on loan in January 2024, but his impact was minimal, with the midfielder making just ten appearances during a disappointing spell.
Ings’ struggles at West Ham have also raised questions about the club’s strategy in the transfer market. Moyes had a track record of bringing in reliable players during his earlier years at the club, but his later signings seemed to lack the same level of success. Ings, in particular, was an expensive misstep. The club will now have to decide whether to attempt to recoup some value for him in January or simply accept the loss and cut their ties at the end of the season.
As West Ham under new manager Julen Lopetegui struggles to regain consistency this season, the Ings saga is a reminder of the risks involved in the transfer market. While not every signing can be a success, some, like Ings, can prove to be costly mistakes. The club will likely reflect on Moyes’ time at the helm with mixed feelings – gratitude for the achievements, but frustration at the financial missteps that have left them with a bloated squad and limited return on some of their more expensive acquisitions. The Ings deal, in particular, stands as one of the clearest examples of the misjudgments that marked the end of Moyes’ reign at West Ham United.
