West Ham United have bolstered their attacking options with the return of striker Divine Mukasa, who has rejoined the Championship club on a season-long loan from Manchester City, according to BBC Sport.
A homecoming a decade in the making
Mukasa, who turns 19 this weekend, spent a full decade in West Ham's academy after joining the club aged six. He made his debut for the under-18s at the age of just 14 and was part of the squad that lifted the FA Youth Cup in 2023 when he was still only 15, before departing for City that same year.
His return to east London carries a clear emotional weight, but it is the football case that will matter most to manager Nuno and the West Ham supporters who have already been vocal about the need for more attacking reinforcements this summer.
A player already tested at senior level
Despite his age, Mukasa arrives with meaningful senior experience already on his CV. He made his first-team debut for Manchester City in the Carabao Cup against Huddersfield in September 2025 and went on to make six appearances across the campaign. He then spent the second half of the season on loan at Leicester City, playing 15 games and scoring twice.
That stint gave Mukasa a sustained run of senior minutes, and it is understood West Ham moved quickly to bring him back to the club where his development began, ahead of what shapes up as a demanding Championship campaign.
International recognition adds to the profile
Mukasa has been recognised at international level since his mid-teens, progressing through England age groups from under-16 upward. He made his under-19 debut last September and has since scored three goals in 11 appearances at that level, underlining the regard in which the Football Association holds him as a development prospect.
That pedigree suggests City view him as a player with a future at the top level, and the structure of a season-long loan to a Championship club reflects a desire to keep his development moving at pace without rushing him into top-flight football before he is ready.
What it means for West Ham
The arrival addresses an area of the squad that Nuno has publicly flagged. West Ham drew 2-2 at Turf Moor earlier in pre-season in circumstances that frustrated supporters, and the manager has since called for more attacking additions. Joel Piroe has been the subject of reported interest, and now Mukasa provides another option in the final third.
At Championship level, Mukasa's pace and youth could prove a genuine asset. West Ham will hope that the familiarity of a club he knows well, and the greater regularity of second-tier football compared to City's senior squad, will allow him to express himself consistently over the course of the full season.
The loan runs until the end of the 2026-27 season, giving both club and player a clear timeframe in which to make the arrangement work.
Frequently asked
- Who is Divine Mukasa?
- Divine Mukasa is a 19-year-old England Under-19 striker who came through West Ham United's academy before joining Manchester City in 2023. He has made senior appearances for City and had a loan spell at Leicester City before returning to West Ham.
- How long is Mukasa's loan at West Ham?
- According to BBC Sport, the loan runs for the full 2026-27 season, covering the entirety of West Ham's Championship campaign.
- What experience does Mukasa have at senior level?
- Mukasa made six senior appearances for Manchester City, including a Carabao Cup debut against Huddersfield in September 2025. He also played 15 games on loan at Leicester City in the second half of the season, scoring two goals.