West Ham United are firmly in contention to sign Brazilian centre-back Natan Bernardo de Souza from Real Betis when the summer window opens. According to ABC Sevilla, a local paper in Andalusia, West Ham are joined by Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, and Brentford in keeping a close eye on the 25-year-old, alongside a few top Serie A sides.
West Ham United among clubs tracking Real Betis centre-back Natan this summer
Betis first brought Natan in on loan from Napoli back in 2024 before triggering a €9m buyout clause to keep him permanently. He has clearly made an impression in La Liga this season; Sport Witness backed up the Premier League links last Thursday, specifically listing Bournemouth, West Ham, and Newcastle as interested parties.
Even Barcelona have him on their radar. Real Betis need to balance their finances by June 30th, and they see Natan as one of their best chances to raise funds, given the amount of interest coming in. While earlier reports suggested €30m might do the trick, local outlet Estadio Deportivo claims Betis actually value him between €35m and €40m. They expect the price to stay high, largely because having so many clubs in the hunt means they don’t have to offer any discounts.
Would West Ham actually get value from a centre-back priced at €35m to €40m?
West Ham’s defensive struggles have been obvious this season, and fixing the back line this summer is a massive priority. On paper, Natan looks like a strong candidate. Looking at his 2025/26 La Liga stats, he’s putting up 1.10 tackles and 1.25 interceptions per 90 minutes, while averaging a solid 6.70 clearances. Those figures suggest a defender who anticipates trouble rather than just reacting to it.
His team let in a goal roughly every 70 minutes during his 29 games, which, over a full 38-game Premier League season, would be a decent, if not world-class, record. To be fair, there are risks involved. Natan plays in a very structured system at Betis, which is quite different from what he’d find at a mid-table or a relegated English club.
The sheer physicality and pace of the Premier League is a big step up, and players who do well in Spain’s tactical game sometimes struggle to adjust. At a price tag of €35m to €40m, West Ham would be paying a premium that leaves little room for error or a long settling-in period.
Still, considering his age, physical traits, and how consistent he’s been all year, the price tag makes sense. West Ham will need to make a move quickly and with purpose, because with Brentford, Bournemouth, and Italian teams all interested, Natan won’t stay on the market for long.
