Manor Solomon has completed a move to West Ham United from Tottenham Hotspur after consulting former Hammers midfielder Yossi Benayoun about his future. The 27-year-old winger is the first player to transfer directly from Tottenham to West Ham since Callum Davenport made the switch in 2007.
When Mohammed Kudus moved in the opposite direction from West Ham to Tottenham last summer, he was the first player to do so since Scott Parker in 2011. Solomon admitted he was completely unaware of the rivalry between the two London clubs before signing.
"I didn’t know it," Solomon said with a laugh when asked about the rivalry. "Okay. Yeah, I didn’t know. I know everyone in London hates each other, especially the big clubs. Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham. They all hate each other but I didn’t know how big this is."
Asked if he had a message for West Ham supporters, Solomon insisted his previous team would not affect his commitment. "It doesn't matter where I came from. It doesn't matter. I think if I came from Spurs, I came from Liverpool, I came from Fiorentina, for me it doesn't matter. I'll just try to give my best regardless of where I came from."
Relationship with Yossi Benayoun
Sitting around a wooden table in the sunshine at West Ham's Rush Green training ground, Solomon scrolled through thousands of pictures on his phone to find an old photo. The screen showed two images stitched together, taken 11 years apart, showing Solomon and Benayoun.
The bottom image showed a six-year-old Solomon standing next to Benayoun during a summer football camp. "I was in a football camp during the summer and he came to visit us as a surprise," Solomon said. "I had a picture with him. My father just got him outside of the room asking for a photo with me."
The top image showed the pair wearing the colours of their country as team-mates after Solomon earned a call-up to the Israel national team at age 17. "We trained together. We shared the dressing room together. It was really amazing to share the dressing room with him. He’s really a hero. He's the hero of Israeli football. Him and Eyal Berkovic. They are the best footballers we've ever had in Israeli football."
Solomon described Benayoun as his idol who proved an Israeli player could reach the highest level in England. "He was my idol. First of all, he's Israeli. He made it to England. He played in the Premier League. He played for Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham, the biggest clubs in England."
Advice on the West Ham transfer
"Back then I was really little and I was looking up to him," Solomon said. "If he made his dream come true, coming from Dimona, a small city in Israel, playing in the Premier League for the biggest clubs, maybe one day I can be the same."
Solomon noted that both players shared similar positions on the pitch. "I really love this game. He was a winger, a number 10, similar to me. Different, but similar. I always looked up to him and said: if Yossi did it, maybe in the future I will be able to get closer to him. I never thought I would get because he was for me the best one."
Benayoun had two spells with West Ham, helping the club reach the FA Cup final in 2006 before returning on loan from Chelsea in 2012. Now close friends, Solomon called Benayoun when interest from West Ham and other clubs surfaced after he decided to leave Tottenham.
"I had a few options," Solomon said. "I asked him what he thought was the best option because I want to hear his opinion. Obviously, he’s played for West Ham. And he told me that he sees me in English football. For him, I'm really suitable and I really fit English football. And West Ham can be a really, really good place for me."
Expectations for the Millwall rivalry
While Solomon was unaware of the Tottenham rivalry, he was informed about the feud between West Ham and Millwall. "I've heard about the rivalry between West Ham and Millwall," Solomon said. "I heard it's really big. I think it's one game before the national team break. So, there's plenty of games until this one."
Solomon added that friends and club staff had warned him about the fixture. "I think a friend of mine told me about the rivalry because I didn't know it before. And then also here at the club everyone told me it's a big rivalry. Of course, West Ham is the big club between the two. But Millwall fans I know are really harsh and tough. So for sure against West Ham it will be even bigger."
Championship title and Premier League goals
Solomon's time at Tottenham was blighted by injury, but he brings promotion-winning experience to West Ham. He spent the 2024-25 season on loan at Leeds, where he scored a stoppage-time winner at Plymouth to secure the Championship title.
Reflecting on his ambitions, Solomon emphasized the difference between divisions. "There is a big difference between the Championship and the Premier League," Solomon added. "West Ham is a big club that can be back in the Premier League and then remain there for a really long time."
"Everyone knows that West Ham belongs in the top half of the Premier League. Three years ago they won a European title. I'm sure if the club goes in the right direction, this club will fight again for Europe in the Premier League."
