Katie Zelem joins West Ham on loan from London City Lionesses

West Ham have signed England midfielder Katie Zelem on loan from Women’s Super League side London City Lions until the end of the season.

Zelem, 30, joined promoted London City from NRL side Angel City last August, but has started just two games this season.

The midfielder spent six years at Manchester United – five of them as captain – helping them to promotion to the WSL in 2019 and winning the FA Cup in 2024 before leaving that summer.

Zelem, who has made 143 WSL appearances and 12 caps for England, reunites with Hammers manager Rita Guarino, under whom she won the 2017-18 Serie A title with Juventus.

“I am very excited to join West Ham United,” Zelem said.

“I want to be successful here and use my experience to help the team as much as I can. I know there is a great group of girls in the building and we have a solid foundation to build on for the rest of the season.”

West Ham occupies 11th place in the WSL league table, one point behind Liverpool in a relegation play-off position, after winning only once in 12 matches.

Former manager Rehan Skinner was sacked in December and replaced by Guarino, whose only Premier League game so far was a 5-0 defeat at Chelsea.

“She was a big factor in me joining the club,” Zelem said of Guarino.

“I like her style of play and what she’s trying to build here. We’ve always had a good relationship and it’s really nice to be together again.”

Guarino said: “I am delighted to be working with Katie again. Her ability to dictate play from midfield, as well as her experience from set-pieces are strengths in her game that will be real assets for us.”

“She also knows what it takes to compete at the highest level, which will add great value to this group of players.”

Zelem could make his West Ham debut against Leicester City on Sunday, January 25 (11:55 GMT).