West Ham have secured England midfielder Katie Zelem on loan from London City Lionesses until season's end. The 30-year-old former Manchester United captain, who won the FA Cup with the Red Devils in 2024, has made just two league starts this term after returning from NWSL side Angel City. She brings 143 WSL appearances and 12 senior England caps to the Hammers.

Zelem reunites with West Ham manager Rita Guarino, her former Juventus boss from their 2017-18 Serie A title-winning campaign. The move addresses West Ham's urgent need for midfield experience, as they sit 11th in the Women's Super League table—one point above the relegation play-off spot after winning just one of 12 games this season.

Guarino praised Zelem's ability to dictate play and her set-piece expertise, calling her a key addition for the relegation battle. Zelem could debut against Leicester City this Sunday, bringing leadership to a squad that lost manager Rehanne Skinner in December. Her arrival signals West Ham's intent to stabilize after a 5-0 defeat to Chelsea in Guarino's first match.