West Ham’s recruitment expected to change following the resignation of Maximilian Hahn
The Hammers are among clubs eyeing youth player Carlos Lopes Rodrigues
Centre-back Konstantinos Mavropanos, Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo have all been linked with moves away from the London Stadium
West Ham United’s recruitment department are looking far and wide as the club prepares for a key summer rebuild after a dismal season that resulted in relegation from the Premier League.
It is uncertain who is actually leading recruitment following the resignation of West Ham’s Head of Technical Recruitment and Analysis, Maximilian Hahn, but it can be expected that head coach Nuno Espírito Santo will feature heavily in the Hammers’ squad construction talks after he was backed to remain in his role after the confirmation of their drop.
Leicester City will also operate in a similar market as they seek to revamp their own squad after being relegated from the Championship to League One, and the two clubs appear to be competing for one of Portugal’s most highly rated defensive prospects.
West Ham alongside clubs eyeing Carlos Lopes Rodrigues
According to journalist Rudy Galetti, that player is Carlos Lopes Rodrigues, an 18-year-old FC Alverca centre-back who has yet to make a professional appearance for the Portuguese club and has attracted increasing attention.
Galetti reports that West Ham and Leicester are following his progress, while many Liga Portugal teams are also keeping an eye on the teenager.
🚨🔥 EXCL | West Ham, Leicester and several Liga Portugal clubs are closely monitoring Carlos Lopes Rodrigues ahead of the summer.
The 2008-born FC Alverca CB is considered one of the defensive prospects to watch closely.
🔗 All the details ▶️ https://t.co/9N5eCG8mSt pic.twitter.com/hGPUCKrZ2z
— Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) June 2, 2026
Lopes Rodrigues has established a great reputation at the youth level with a mix of physical presence, possession poise, and maturity beyond his years. Standing at 6ft 3in, the Portugal and Guinea-Bissau dual-national is regarded as a modern-day centre-back capable of aggressive defending but being at ease while building play from the back.
Galetti’s article also states the 2008-born defender’s performances for Alverca’s Under-19 team in the 2025-26 season did not go unnoticed. Coaches are believed to have been captivated by “his mentality, consistency and willingness to learn,” all of which have helped raise his reputation among teams wanting to invest in long-term defensive quality.
West Ham are expected to undergo a significant defensive restructuring, with Hammer of the Year Konstantinos Mavropanos, Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo all linked with moves away from the London Stadium.