Empty Promises - West Ham REJECTED By Underwhelming Star Striker
Star Striker With Underwhelming Past REJECTS West Ham Move
When it comes to strikers, West Ham United rarely get the luck of the draw. In fact, you could even make a whole starting 11 of strikers who failed at the Boleyn Ground/London Stadium (which we did).
Right now, the Hammers' striker options at the top of their line include an ageing Callum Wilson (who's actually been ok this season) and wantaway flop Niclas Füllkrug, who was signed from beaten Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund after an impressive showing at Euro 2024 but has only coughed up three goals in 29 appearances so far, and is now set to leave at 32 years old.
So the striker-based merry-go-round has started up on its next revolution around the wheel over at the London Stadium, with West Ham once again in the hunt for a new forward as we enter into the winter transfer window. However, all hasn't been smooth sailing so far, as one of Europe's most in-form forwards has rejected a move to the Hammers before the window even opens.
No Promise Made - Canada Striker David Rejects West Ham Move
The next striker targeted by the Hammers, seeking to put an end to years of miserable signings at their attack's helm, was Union Saint-Gilloise striker Promise David.
First goal of the Champions League season, as promised:
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 16, 2025
Promise David for Union St. Gilloise 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/44YhpLBIdh
David, a 24-year-old Canadian, has been on song for USG since moving there from Estonian side Nomme Kalju in 2024, notching 34 goals in 65 appearances, including eight so far this season with two in the Champions League and six in the Jupiler Pro League.
West Ham were seeking a deal for the 6'5" striker, but the eight-times-capped Canada forward has distanced himself from a move to London anytime soon, with talkSPORT reporting that the former Toronto FC academy man is unwilling to swap Champions League football for a Premier League relegation battle.
Would Promise David End West Ham's Misery?
The short answer? Maybe not.
Simply saying he wouldn't because "West Ham can't sign good strikers" would be rather lazy rhetoric, but in layman's terms, Promise David wouldn't likely be up to par in the Premier League.
Si il y'a bien un joueur à qui faire attention demain c'est lui : Promise David #TeamOM pic.twitter.com/tnjZMd3N78
— FADA DE L'OM (@FadadelOM_) December 8, 2025
He offers the physical nous and underlying pace that the Premier League requires of a player, but his ability outside of scoring situations would not offer much for a West Ham team that does not create too many chances.
He's been all over the place, too. Whilst playing for local amateur side Vaughan Azzurri, after his release from Toronto, he was scouted and signed by Croatian third division side Trnje, with whom he made five senior appearances. He went back to academy football for a year after, joining FC Tulsa on youth terms in 2021, before making an outlandish jump over to Malta. He spent just over a year there, failing to turn any heads in spells with Valletta and Sirens, before making another move to Estonia with Nomme Kalju in 2023.
After managing to make an impression there, he made his way into the first-team picture and netted 30 goals in 40 games for them, prompting Belgian top-flight side USG to have a stab at him in the summer of 2024, with whom he would score 19 league goals in his debut campaign.
He's caught the eye in the Champions League this season with two goals, having played once with USG in Europe's top contest last season and twice upon their relegation to the Europa League. West Ham are looking to beat any potential big club's future interest to the punch with a bid, but the lofty Canadian is not interested at this time.
Oliver Seymour 
Harry Pascoe 
