West Ham have opened preliminary talks with the representatives of Sunderland winger Simon Adingra as they consider a move for the Ivory Coast international.
The Hammers are assessing the conditions required for a potential transfer as they look to strengthen their attacking options following Crysencio Summerville’s move to Al Hilal.
West Ham see Adingra as a player who could provide additional pace and attacking directness on the wings. The club would prefer to sign the 24-year-old on a permanent basis, although a loan deal containing an option or obligation to buy is also being considered.
There have been no official negotiations between West Ham and Sunderland at this stage, with discussions currently focused on the player’s representatives.
Sunderland are understood to value Adingra at about £30m and are not prepared to allow him to leave for a significantly lower fee. That valuation would enable the Black Cats to recoup their investment in the winger.
West Ham are also continuing discussions over a possible deal for Wilson Isidor, indicating that the London club are considering more than one option as they attempt to add to their attacking ranks.
Adingra’s future has become uncertain following an inconsistent 2025-26 campaign. The winger spent the second half of the season on loan at AS Monaco after starting the campaign with Sunderland.
During his time in the Principality, Adingra made 17 appearances, scoring three goals and registering two assists. Although he produced some encouraging displays, Monaco decided against exercising the option to make his move permanent.
Before joining Monaco, Adingra played 15 times for Sunderland during the opening half of the season. He scored once before leaving on loan in an attempt to secure more regular first-team football.
Despite the mixed nature of his campaign, the winger remains a player attracting attention in the Premier League, with West Ham now exploring the possibility of bringing him back to London.
Adingra’s development began at the Right to Dream Academy after he had started his football education at ABIS Sport Academy in Benin. He subsequently established himself at FC Nordsjælland before earning a move to Brighton.
His reputation grew further during a loan spell with Union Saint-Gilloise, where his performances underlined his attacking potential and helped put him on the radar of bigger clubs.
Adingra later moved to Sunderland and has also established himself on the international stage with Ivory Coast. He was part of the Ivory Coast side that won the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.
His pace and ability to attack from wide positions have continued to make him an attractive option, even after a season in which his club career lacked consistency.
For West Ham, any agreement would depend on whether the club can reach Sunderland’s £30m valuation or negotiate a structure that suits both sides. A permanent transfer remains the preferred route for the Hammers, but a loan arrangement with a future purchase clause could provide an alternative.
With no formal club-to-club negotiations yet taking place, the situation remains at an early stage. However, West Ham’s interest suggests Adingra’s reputation remains strong despite his disrupted 2025-26 campaign.
The winger’s previous experience in England, his international pedigree with Ivory Coast and his ability to provide attacking pace are factors that have made him a potential target as West Ham reshape their forward options.
Sunderland, meanwhile, face the prospect of deciding whether to retain the player or consider offers that meet their valuation. With West Ham also pursuing Isidor, the London club’s attacking recruitment could develop along more than one route in the coming weeks.
