The Hammers Land Their Creative Striker
West Ham just pulled off a €29 million heist, snatching Taty Castellanos from Lazio in a move that could define their relegation scrap. The 27-year-old Argentine inked a four-and-a-half-year deal at the London Stadium, becoming the second attacking reinforcement this January after Brazilian striker Pablo arrived from Gil Vicente for €23 million. Meanwhile, Niclas Füllkrug headed the opposite direction on loan to AC Milan, clearing the deck for fresh blood up top.
Castellanos isn’t your typical goal-hungry number nine. His career arc—from MLS stardom with New York City FC to a productive loan spell at Girona before settling in Rome—has been defined by something rarer than raw finishing: the ability to make everyone around him better. At Lazio, he managed just 22 goals in 98 appearances across all competitions, which sounds underwhelming until you understand what he actually does on the pitch.
A Striker Who Doesn’t Really Strike
Stefano Buonfino, one of Transfermarkt’s Content Managers in Italy, has been watching Castellanos closely and breaks down what makes him tick: “Castellanos is an untypical striker. He’s difficult to evaluate because his added value is not his goals but the fact that he fits in very well with the team and links up play. In fact, he doesn’t score many but helps his teammates a lot, with and without the ball.”
That profile might sound odd for a club four points deep in the relegation zone, but West Ham’s attacking setup could be perfect for him. Buonfino compares Castellanos to a blend of Edin Džeko and Dimitar Berbatov—a physical yet technical presence who operates as part target man, part attacking playmaker. “He’s a mixture of a target man, a second striker, and an attacking playmaker,” Buonfino explains. “Perhaps he can be compared a little also to Richarlison, but their characteristics are not perfectly overlapping either.”
Following Ciro Immobile’s departure—a guy who won the Serie A golden boot four times—Lazio restructured their entire attack. Castellanos stepped into impossible shoes and, while he didn’t replicate Immobile’s goal-scoring heroics, he brought something different to the table. The Eagles finished seventh last season and currently sit eighth, which tells you the transition hasn’t been seamless.
Will He Survive the Premier League Grind?
The big question: Can a forward who prioritizes creation over finishing thrive in England’s most unforgiving league? Buonfino thinks the pieces could fit. “He can be successful in the Premier League, because he has the right determination to earn his place, but this will depend on the level of chemistry with his attacking teammates,” he says. “Wingers like Crysencio Summerville could find Castellanos to be a valuable ally, someone willing to work for the team and help the wingers make a difference in front of goal.”
That’s the dream scenario—Castellanos dropping deep, pulling defenders out of position, and threading passes to West Ham’s speedsters on the flanks. But January transfers rarely click immediately, and West Ham doesn’t have the luxury of patience. They need points now, not six weeks from now when Castellanos finally settles in.
The Argentine brings work rate, tactical intelligence, and an unselfish approach that could unlock West Ham’s attacking talent. Whether that’s enough to keep them in the Premier League remains the ultimate test. But one thing’s for sure: They didn’t sign him to be their leading scorer. They signed him to make everyone else score.
