Leicester City is set to part ways with goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, just one year after he arrived at the King Power. West Ham United have reportedly agreed a deal worth between £18 million and £20 million for the Danish shot-stopper, with personal terms not expected to be an issue.
The move comes just weeks before the new Premier League season kicks off, and it leaves Leicester looking for a new number one at a time when the squad is still adjusting to life back in the top flight. Hermansen was one of last season’s standout performers, and his departure will be a tough one for many fans to accept, even if the money makes sense for the club.
Hermansen’s influence after just one season
When Hermansen joined from Brøndby in the summer of 2023, few expected him to settle as quickly as he did. Calm on the ball, confident in his box, and alert to danger, he brought stability to Leicester’s back line at a time when the team desperately needed it.
Under Enzo Maresca, Hermansen played in 44 Championship matches, keeping 13 clean sheets and conceding just 41 goals. His distribution stood out, helping to start attacks from the back, and he regularly bailed out the defence with sharp saves in key moments. It’s no surprise that Premier League sides took notice, even before Leicester secured promotion.
The transfer of Leicester City’s first-choice goalkeeper, Mads Hermansen, to West Ham does impact sports betting odds for Leicester City, primarily because he is a key player and his departure changes the team dynamic and perceived strength. Losing a key player like Leicester’s Hermansen impacts betting odds because it lowers the team’s perceived strength and chances of success. Several bookmakers, including international best bitcoin betting sites, offer various odds on teams and players. Punters can bet on Leicester and Hermansen’s performance with crypto, and select various bets like Clean Sheet Bets, which is betting that the goalkeeper’s team will concede no goals, or Correct Score Bets, which is predicting the exact final match score, influenced by the goalkeeper’s ability to prevent goals. Losing him impacts the entire team’s betting odds.
For example, before his transfer, bookmakers might have offered odds like 8/1 for Leicester to win the Championship and 3/1 for promotion, reflecting reasonable confidence in the team. After he leaves, the odds lengthen to 11/1 for a Championship win and 4/1 for promotion, meaning Leicester is now viewed as less likely to succeed. At the same time, the odds for relegation shorten from 12/1 to 8/1, indicating a higher perceived risk of the team struggling. In simple terms, the change in odds shows that losing Hermansen makes bookmakers and bettors less confident in Leicester’s chances, so the potential payout increases for positive outcomes because those become seen as less likely, while the risk of negative outcomes like relegation becomes more probable.
Although he never got the chance to feature in the Premier League for City, his impact during the promotion campaign was clear. For a player who had never played in England before last season, Hermansen looked right at home, and that made him one of Leicester’s most reliable performers.
West Ham’s move changes direction quickly
While West Ham had been targeting Botafogo’s John Victor for much of the summer, the move for Hermansen came together fast once Leicester lowered their asking price. Reports suggest Victor had even reached the airport in Brazil before the Premier League side pulled the plug on that deal and turned their attention to the Dane.
Graham Potter, now in charge at West Ham, has been eager to bring in a keeper who fits his style. Hermansen’s passing ability and cool temperament ticked all the boxes. It’s believed Potter personally pushed for the transfer once he learned Hermansen might be available at a lower fee than first expected.
Losing a player so late in the window isn’t ideal, especially one as settled as Hermansen. But the financial side of the deal is hard to ignore. With Leicester continuing to manage spending carefully after promotion, accepting a £20 million bid, especially for a goalkeeper signed for less than half that, offers a chance to reinvest in multiple positions.
The business of football, on and off the pitch
Like many clubs newly promoted to the Premier League, Leicester is walking a fine line between building a competitive squad and staying financially stable. Selling a key player always brings short-term questions, but in today’s football world, clubs often have to make moves that support the bigger picture.
Back in Leicester, the focus now turns to finding a replacement. Danny Ward and Jakub Stolarczyk remain part of the squad, but it’s unlikely either will be handed the starting role for the Premier League campaign. Whether the club looks abroad or within the league, they’ll need to move swiftly.
There’s no panic at the club, though. Last summer’s recruitment was widely praised, and there’s confidence in the current setup. If Leicester can bring in a dependable goalkeeper before the season begins, Hermansen’s departure might soon feel like smart business rather than a setback.