Windfall for Maidenhead United as West Ham United close in on £40m deal for Kilman?

Reports are circulating that West Ham United are closing in on a £40m deal to sign Wolves captain Max Kilman this summer, a deal which is set to net Maidenhead United a significant sell on fee.

A range of outlets, including Sky Sports News and Fabrizio Romano - rarely wrong when it comes to transfer speculation these days it seems - are reporting that the Hammers are close to agreeing a deal for the former Magpies' defender.

In a post on X, Romano said: “West Ham are closing in deal to sign Max Kilman from Wolves.

“New bid worth £40m expected to be accepted soon, agreement almost done.

“Kilman already agreed on personal terms as Julen Lopetegui wants him at all costs, as revealed weeks ago.

“Here we go soon.”

⚒️ West Ham are closing in deal to sign Max Kilman from Wolves! New bid worth £40m expected to be accepted soon, agreement almost done.

Kilman already agreed on personal terms as Julen Lopetegui wants him at all costs, as revealed weeks ago.

Here we go, soon ⏳ pic.twitter.com/1agiPXCh2c

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 4, 2024

The Sky Sports presenter Dharmesh Sheth has also posted on X that Kilman is having his medical at West Ham this afternoon (Thursday), with the clubs finalising the details of the deal after agreeing a fee in the region of £40m. 

Maidenhead sold Kilman to Wolves for around £40,000 in 2018 and have a significant sell on clause as confirmed by their chairman, Peter Griffin, back in April. It is reported to be between 15-20 per cent, although this has never been confirmed by the Magpies.

Should a deal go through for Kilman in the region of £40m Maidenhead could be set to receive between £6-8m - a hugely significant windfall - however, there may be other caps or clauses in place which mean they don't quite receive that amount.

Either way, as Griffin said at the supporters meeting back in April, a deal for Kilman this summer would be 'very nice'.

Speculation has been following the Wolves captain around this close season, with a couple of Premier League teams thought to be interested in acquiring his services.

John Percy at The Telegraph reported last month that Newcastle were interested in making a cash-plus-player offer for Kilman.

This was rejected by Wolves, however, with new West Ham boss Lopetegui a huge admirer of Kilman from his time managing him at Molineux, the Hammers have always looked like being the front-runners for his signature.

The centre back was followed closely by the Hammers last summer but a bid from them never materialised. Wolves did reject an offer for him from Napoli before agreeing a new five-year deal with the player and making him their captain.

The 27-year-old appeared in all but one of Wolves’ 23 league games under Lopetegui and continued to be a key player when Gary O’Neil replaced the Spaniard less than a week before the start of last season.

Griffin didn't disclose any details of the sell-on clause when he spoke to United fans in March, but he did have the following to say about Kilman possibly getting a big move this summer.

“Yes, because everyone knows that (they have a sell on clause).

“All contracts of players that we sell on, we try to get a sell on clause.

“Those contracts are confidential between the two parties, but yes, we always try to get that into the contract.

“We’ll see what happens. Every year we have players who move on.

“Emile Acquah moved on last year, and Josh Kelly has just moved on again from Solihull to AFC Wimbledon.

“One of the great things about having a smaller budget is that you must rely on younger players, and they get more game time than they do at other clubs.

“Players also see that as a positive if they’re trying to restart or progress their career.

“What that means is also, with our blessing, players move on.

“Max has obviously done fantastically well, and it would be nice if he moved in the summer, let’s put it that way.”