West Ham target Middlesbrough defender as defensive depth dries up

West Ham United are reported to be preparing a winter bid for 22‑year‑old Dutch centre‑back Rav van den Berg, who is on the fringes of Bundesliga side FC Koln. The Hammers, newly relegated from the Premier League, need fresh defensive depth as they aim to bounce back, and the former Middlesbrough player fits that profile.

Defensive needs at West Ham

Relegation has forced the East London club into a reshuffle. Morato, on loan from Nottingham Forest, has been shifted to left‑back, while the only senior centre‑back on the bench against Millwall was 18‑year‑old Airidas Golambeckis. With the squad thin, the Hammers have been pinpointed by outsiders as favourites to win the Championship, but they must add experience to avoid a repeat of last season’s struggles.

Van den Berg’s recent form

Koln signed the defender last summer after their return to the Bundesliga in May 2025, paying Middlesbrough a package worth up to £11.2m. Since then he has made just 14 appearances, the last on 5 April against Eintracht Frankfurt, and has not featured at all this season despite the club scoring nine goals in three games.

Past achievements and motivation

Van den Berg arrived at Middlesbrough three years ago for a modest £260,000 from PEC Zwolle and went on to make 61 appearances, winning both Young Player of the Season and Player of the Season for 2023/24. The Dutchman, a former 11‑time Under‑21 international, still harbours a desire to play in the Premier League, a wish shared by his brother Sepp, who currently turns out for Brentford.

The Hammers made eight signings in the summer window and, although the transfer market closed four weeks ago, they are already eyeing a first move when business reopens on New Year’s Day. A winter offer could give West Ham the experience they lack at centre‑back while offering van den Berg a return to English football.

Benedict graduated with a 2:1 (Hons) in Multimedia Journalism at the University of Wolverhampton in September 2024, before achieving a Merit in MA Sports Journalism at Coventry University in 2025. He previously covered Rugby League and non‑league football matches for various sites, and worked as an intern with Wolves’ Academy between 2023 and 2025.

Like many reports, the story has become a thread that is logged here, and the club will show its intent in January. I’m aware that West Ham will give a clear deadline to the player’s representatives before the window shuts.

Supporters have already been asked whether they would welcome the signing, and most agree that a change of environment would benefit the Dutchman, making the potential deal a win‑win for all parties involved.