English Championship side Hull City look set to sign Eagles defender Semi Ajayi

ENGLISH Championship side Hull City are set to offer Super Eagles defender Semi Ajayi a new contract signing him up on a free transfer as the centreback looks set to part ways with his current club West Bromwich Albion (WBA).

Ajayi, 31, has spent the last six year as West Brom and it looks like he and the club have been unable to reach a deal on renewing his contract. Last season, Ajayi battled with persistent hamstring injuries and was limited to 15 appearances for the Baggies and as a result, talks around a new contract included a request that he reduce his wage demands.

Unable to reach an agreement, the one-year contract extension Ajayi was hoping for did not materialise and Hull City, who are desperately looking for some experience at the back have stepped in. Hull survived relegation on the last day of the season and know that if they want to avoid a repeat of such a scare, they need a bit more defensive solidity.

During his six years at WBA, Ajayi appeared in 177 games and scored 13 goals, while providing three assists. if the transfer does go ahead as planned, Ajayi will provide competition for Sean McLaughlin, Elfie Jones, John Egan and Charlie Hughes in central defence.

Last season Ajayi only made 15 league appearances for West Brom and will be hoping to enjoy a better season during the next campaign now that he is fit again.  Hull City's new head coach Sergej Jakirovic, is apparently an admirer of Ajayi and is keen on getting his reign off to a good start with a few big signings.

Ajayi, a London-born player who came through the ranks at Arsenal, has 200 Championship games under his belt, 33 in the Premier League and has 43 international caps. A regular for Albion in previous seasons, the  hamstring injury picked up last November saw him sidelined for much of the campaign and ruled him out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.