Manor Solomon has officially joined West Ham United, a move that has seen him become the first player to transfer directly from Tottenham to West Ham since Callum Davenport in 2007. Solomon shared his admiration for former Israeli international and West Ham favorite Yossi Benayoun, citing him as a childhood idol who inspired his own Premier League aspirations.
"He was my idol," Solomon stated. "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."
Solomon noted that Benayoun's success, coming from the small Israeli city of Dimona, fueled his own belief that a similar path was possible. Benayoun, who had two stints with West Ham and played for other major English clubs, offered Solomon advice when the winger was considering his options after leaving Tottenham.
"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," Solomon recounted.
However, Solomon admitted to being unaware of the significant rivalry between Tottenham and West Ham. "I didn't know it," he said with a laugh when the intensity of the rivalry was explained. "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."
Despite his previous club affiliation, Solomon emphasized his commitment to performing for West Ham. "It doesn't matter where I came from. I'll just try to give my best regardless of where I came from."
He also acknowledged hearing about the rivalry between West Ham and Millwall, understanding it to be a major fixture. Solomon's past season included a successful loan spell at Leeds United, where he scored a crucial late goal to secure the Championship title in the 2024-25 season. He believes West Ham, as a Premier League club with a recent European title, has the potential to compete at the top half of the league and potentially challenge for European places again if the club continues on its current trajectory.