West Ham given red carpet to sign former Middlesbrough player in January – Club go public

Köln sporting director confirms talks underway with West Ham over van den Berg's January exit after the defender's struggles in the Bundesliga.

Rav van den Berg, signed by Köln from Middlesbrough for €8m in summer 2025, has failed to establish himself in the Bundesliga and is now set to leave. Köln sporting director Thomas Kessler confirmed Wednesday that talks are underway with West Ham, acknowledging the 22-year-old's situation is unsatisfactory. Kessler indicated that if van den Berg's circumstances don't improve by January, a departure will be necessary, effectively opening the door for the Hammers to pursue the defender.