“We know Andy well from his time in the Austrian league, where he was very productive. He has been on our radar ever since. He is a left-footed, intelligent, hard-working and constructive midfielder with good vision, capable of changing the tempo and point of attack, and with a strong feel for combination play. At the same time, he is diligent in defence and consistently fulfils his defensive duties. His quick decision-making, movement, overall activity and ability to solve situations impressed us, and we are very happy that he will strengthen our midfield,” says sporting director Tomáš Rosický.
Andrew Irving was born on 13 May 2000 in Edinburgh, Scotland. At just eight years old, he joined local side Heart of Midlothian and went on to progress through the entire youth system of the current Scottish league leaders. Before turning 18, he gained experience in the second tier on loan, and at 19 he established himself as a regular starter for Hearts’ first team.
In his first full season with the first team, he helped his boyhood club reach the Scottish FA Cup final, where they were eventually beaten by Celtic. An even tougher blow followed in the form of relegation from the top flight. However, in the pandemic-affected 2020/21 season, Hearts dominated the second division from start to finish, and Irving played his part in their immediate return to the elite with two goals and seven assists.
A textbook career path for a Scottish youth international, you might think. Not quite. In the summer of 2021, Irving opted for a bold move – turning down a contract extension to join third-tier side Türkgücü München. The club, closely linked to the Turkish community in Bavaria, had openly harboured ambitions of climbing the German football pyramid. In spring 2022, however, mounting debts led to insolvency, forcing Irving to change clubs after just one season.
He remained in the German-speaking football environment, with Austria Klagenfurt offering him a new opportunity. On the shores of the Wörthersee, he flourished, finishing his first Bundesliga season with five goals and eight assists. Austria secured an impressive sixth-place finish, and a well-earned transfer followed in September 2023. West Ham United quietly secured Irving’s services, allowing the Scottish midfielder to remain in Klagenfurt on loan for another season.
Upon his return to the British Isles, Irving faced significantly tougher competition for his position. That is why his name was linked with clubs such as Espanyol, Atalanta, Celtic and St. Pauli. However, with his partner having secured a job at one of London’s schools, Irving decided to stay and fight for his place under Julen Lopetegui.
Despite limited minutes, Irving earned praise from both teammates and West Ham supporters, who valued his work rate and professionalism. Scotland head coach Steve Clarke also kept a close eye on the midfielder, rewarding him with his first national team call-ups and a debut in a friendly against Liechtenstein. In total, Irving featured in 17 Premier League matches. Now, he returns to Central Europe and becomes one of our own.
Andrew, we are so excited to have you in the team!
