West Ham sell Denton for club record fee to Bay FC

West Ham have sold defender Anouk Denton for a club record fee of £200,000 to American side Bay FC.

The 22-year-old has been a key player for the Hammers since signing permanently from Arsenal in 2023, making 67 appearances.

Denton became the first West Ham player to represent the Lionesses since 1996 when she made her England debut against Ghana in December.

“Bay FC is an ambitious club with a clear vision, and it felt like the right place for the next step in my career,” Denton said.

Denton last played for West Ham in December’s 5-1 defeat by Manchester City in the League Cup quarter-finals.

She leaves West Ham with the club 11th in the Women’s Super League, one point above Liverpool in the relegation play-off spot.

Denton will reunite with former England Under-23s manager Emma Coates when she joins Bay FC.

“I’m really pleased to welcome Anouk to Bay. She’s someone I have worked with before, so I know exactly what she brings,” Coates said.

“She brings valuable experience at the top level from her time in the WSL, and what’s exciting is that there’s still room for her to grow.”

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Bay FC finished 13th of 14 teams in the National Women’s Soccer League last season, registering just four wins in 26 matches.