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Maidenhead eye huge windfall as Wolves ‘accept’ West Ham’s seven figure bid for Max Kilman

Maidenhead United eye a huge windfall as Wolves ‘accept’ West Ham’s seven figure bid for Max Kilman according to reports.

Express and Star and Sky Sports said that the Hammers have had an improved offer in the region of £40m for defender Max Kilman accepted by Wolverhampton Wanderers.

An opening bid of £25m had been rejected by Wolves in June, which fell short of Wolves’ valuation, so West Ham upped their offer by around £15m, with Wolves to sell the 27 year old.

As per Liam Keen of the Express & Star, Maidenhead originally had a 20% sell on clause for Max Kilman but agreed to lower it to 10% to get this deal done.

@christoph_21 meanwhile tweets: “Max Kilman to West Ham United will see Maidenhead United benefit to the tune of £4m through their 10% sell-on clause. Enough to, if the club chose to, pay off entirety of their £1.9m debt and have the same amount again left over.”

Chairman Peter Griffin said at the supporters meeting back in April, there would be a significant sell on clause a deal for Kilman, describing that it would be ‘very nice’.

In a new statement, posted on the day Kilman was announced, Griffin added: “I would like to congratulate former Maidenhead United player, Max Kilman, on completing his transfer from Wolves to West Ham and wish him every success for this exciting next stage of his career.

“It is no great secret that when we sold Max to Wolves in 2018 a sell on clause was included within the transfer agreement which the club will now benefit from over the coming few years.

“Over recent days there has been a lot of speculation regarding the sell on clause and the amount of money the club will receive.

“As you would expect commercial confidentially prohibits me from providing specific details about the sell on clause, however, we were engaged with various parties during the negotiation process for Max’s transfer.

“We reached a mutually agreeable position that all parties are satisfied with and importantly it is in the best interest of the club.

“Ultimately this is a fantastic outcome for club which will benefit from one of the largest, if not the largest, transfer payments an English non league club has ever received, which is something to celebrate.

“This is testament to the hard work of Alan Devonshire and his coaching team past and present, as well our Academy programme which every year is developing players which move into our first team squad.

“This is a momentous day for Maidenhead United FC, which gives us the opportunity to profoundly change the future of the club.

“A supporters meeting will be held in due course to give more details on how the cash injection will be used on and off the pitch. Peter Griffin Chairman.”

New West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui, is to be reunited with Kilman, having been together in the nine months the Spaniard had in charge at Wolves.

“It’s an amazing feeling to be a West Ham United player,” said Kilman upon signing for the Hammers.

“As soon as I was aware of the interest from the Club, it was an opportunity I was keen to pursue, so I couldn’t be more delighted to be here.

“I really enjoyed working with Julen during his time at Wolves – he’s a top-class coach and someone I learned a lot from, and I am confident I will continue to improve as a player under his management here.

“West Ham is a massive Club and I feel this is the natural next step forward in my career.

“Playing in front of a passionate fan-base, with 62,500 supporters packing out London Stadium every other week, is something I am incredibly excited about.

“Having spoken at length to both Julen and Tim [Steidten], I was hugely encouraged about the ambition of the Club and their plans for the future. They want to make a big noise here at West Ham and as a new player coming in, that’s an incredible thing to hear.

“I’m looking forward to getting down to work and preparing for an exciting season ahead.

 Technical Director Tim Steidten said: “We’re delighted to have secured Max’s signature – he was one of our top targets in the central defensive area in this transfer window, so we couldn’t be happier to have completed the deal to bring him to West Ham United.

“This is a serious and notable moment for West Ham United – the signing of an established, proven English Premier League central defender in the peak years of his career.

“He has many great qualities as a defender. He’s a strong, powerful centre-back, who possesses the leadership qualities that are so important in that area of the pitch.

“Julen and I have spoken at length about the kind of characters we want to bring to West Ham, and Max fits the bill.

“His arrival shows the ambition of the Board to bring big players to the Football Club. I’m sure the West Ham fans are as excited as we all are about this signing.”

Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs said: “It’s bittersweet for me, having brought Max in, but it feels like a deal which works for everybody. We’re getting a good fee and unbelievable return on investment, West Ham are getting a homegrown left-sided centre back and it’s a good story for Maidenhead. While it was tough, it also allows Max to get closer to his family in London.

“He’s unbelievably laid back and has always been a man of few words. He had a tough couple of years personally, but the way he handled it and didn’t let it affect him leaves you slightly in awe. He’s someone you can’t help but root for. I don’t know anyone at the club who would have a negative word about him. Maybe people will realise what he did on the pitch more now he’s left than when he was here.

“It’s one we talked about a lot. It felt like the right thing for everybody. It enables us to look at the market and enables someone else to become a leader. When you lose anybody, it allows other people to become leaders, and that’s any team in the world. We have Yerson coming back, Santi is still relatively new and Toti is developing.

“It could be that someone here steps up or we go into the market with these funds. It’s exciting what we can do, and we’d be looking to bring someone in who move us forward. Although it’s tough, it creates opportunities and that’s always exciting.”

Kilman first joined Wolves from National League outfit Maidenhead United in August 2018.

He sealed a move to the Premier League by signing for the West Midlands outfit on the final day of the transfer window for a reported £40,000, as per Football In Berkshire.

The Magpies youth team graduate made his way into Alan Devonshire’s first team and proved to be a versatile player before scoring his first goal for the club, a 94th minute winner to beat promotion-chasing Dover 3-2.

It comes a years after Kilman had previously been with the likes of Marlow, Fulham, Gillingham Town and Welling United at youth level.

These days he’s an established Premier League player, making 151 appearances in competitions for Wolves and in 2023, interested Serie A champions Napoli – according to The Athletic – who lodged a €35million (£30m).

Wolves turned down a €35million offer from Napoli and wouldn’t accept less than €40million for the centre-back.

Speaking to the Premier League before stepping foot back in York Road in 2023, Kilman said: “It’s great to be back, I haven’t been here in years, so I’m excited. It was only really one full season [he played regularly], obviously I was part of the youth team before, but I really enjoyed it, and it was part of how I grew up as a player – it’s my journey.”

Sat in the York Road dugouts, Kilman reunited with Alan Devonshire, who reflected on managing a young Kilman in the tough environment of the fifth tier of English football.

Devonshire said: “It’s great memories for him. To see him progress the way he has, he was always big anyway, but he’s filled out as well now. He was only a baby, only a pup when he was here, but his technical ability was always better than everyone else’s.

“We had to play him left-back because it was really very physical then and men would hurt him – he was only 19. I just made sure I protected him, and he learned the game there. Wolves came in and we chatted about it, and it was right for him at the time and it’s great it’s worked out.”

Reflecting on the end of an enriching return to Maidenhead, he said: “It’s been great to see so many familiar faces and to see they’re all doing really well – some amazing people work at this club. It felt like a family club when I left and it’s still the same now. I’m really happy they’re doing really well, and I hope it continues for them as well.

“There are so many players you see now coming from non-league into the Premier League and other leagues as well. It’s good that I’m part of it.”

This is how fans reacted as Maidenhead eye a huge windfall upon hearing that Wolves have decided to ‘accept’ West Ham’s seven figure bid for Max Kilman…

@capzwwfc: Just clocked that maidenhead are about to go on a title charge

@808Slates: 40m for Max Killman is outstanding business for Wolves and Maidenhead. He’s been a super servant. Is he a proper captain no, is he replaceable yes absolutely and above all else allows GON to look to install a back four so we have options #wwfc

@O5Arch: Pay day for Maidenhead

@BrettMendoza_: What I like about this is Maidenhead will make about £6m out of it. What a windfall for the club

@eastparkwolves: £4,000,000 is big for Maidenhead btw

@deanjmorris: Glad to see Maidenhead will earn a few quid out of this , how it should be when you develop a player, as a Wolves fan though as much as Kilman has been decent for us £40m is a lot of money and we couldn’t turn that down 🤷‍♂️

@jbrentford101: From Maidenhead, £250k to FOURTY MILLION POUNDS. Jesuuuuuuuu

@whuharley18: if the kilman deal does go through, we’ve going to be giving maidenhead united the biggest fuckin payday they will ever receive, they’re getting like 8m from it 😭

@Hammers54: If as now expected we sign Max Killman there is part of the deal I like. Maidenhead will get in region of £3m as a result of a sell on clause. Not only will that be a big help to the club, but also their manager..one Alan Devonshire. Wonder if Dev had a word? #COYI

@Drfc88: Excellent news for Maidenhead United with that sell on clause

@UnitedFansMUFC: Great news for Maidenhead, should get a big slice of revenue in from that!

@ZakWWFC_: £40 million for max kilman is incredible business. There will be street party’s in Maidenhead tonight for there share of £4 million 🤣🐺

@ArcheryContest: They’ll be dancing on the streets of Maidenhead

@jakebakermusic: 40 million 😂😂😂 well done wolves and Maidenhead

@JackPLoftus: £4m heading to Maidenhead United Huge for them 💸

@lewis_wwfc77: 4 million going to Maidenhead huge for them

@CS__UTV: Massive for Maidenhead.

@Kingwolf84: £4m to Maidenhead that sets them up well for the next couple of seasons….

@JackOfWulfrun: That’s great for Maidenhead though, good for them man

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