Adama Traoré Considered by Deportivo La Coruña for La Liga Return
Adama Traoré is back on the market and back in the headlines.
Released by West Ham United when his contract expired at the end of last season, the 30-year-old winger is now being seriously considered by Deportivo La Coruña as they prepare for their La Liga return.
Spanish journalist Matteo Moretto reported on X that Deportivo have made contact with Traoré, describing him as “a real option” for the Galician club, but only if the financial conditions are right. No agreement yet, but the door is clearly open.
Deportivo look to add power out wide
For a certain generation of fans, Deportivo still evoke memories of Champions League nights, shock comebacks and title challenges in the early 2000s. That era feels a long way off. The club have had to claw their way back after years of decline, and only sealed promotion to La Liga last season.
Now the reality bites: survival comes first.
Antonio Hidalgo’s side begin their campaign on Monday at home to Elche, and the squad still looks light in key areas. The right flank is one of them. David Mella, who would usually compete for that role, is out with a torn lateral meniscus and there is no clear timeline for his return. Luismi Cruz can fill in on that side, but depth is thin.
That is where Traoré enters the conversation.
A career that never quite settled in England
West Ham did not get the version of Adama Traoré that terrorised full-backs at his peak. Signed from Fulham in January, he made just 12 appearances for the Hammers, failed to score and registered two assists as the club slid out of the Premier League. The move never really caught fire.
His English journey as a whole tells a different story. At Wolverhampton Wanderers he was a genuine weapon, capable of ripping games open with one run. Middlesbrough saw his raw pace and power up close before that. Fulham and Aston Villa also gave him stages to show flashes of what he can do.
It has always been the same question with Traoré: can someone turn those flashes into a consistent, reliable threat?
A return that makes footballing sense
At 30, a move back to Spain would feel like a natural reset. Traoré has already worn the Spain shirt eight times and knows La Liga from his formative years. He came through Barcelona’s system, broke into the first team, and later returned to Camp Nou on loan from Wolves.
Deportivo would be getting more than just a right winger. Traoré can operate on either flank and has also been used through the middle as a centre-forward. For a newly promoted side with a limited budget, that kind of versatility carries real value across a long, unforgiving season.
Deportivo need pace on the break, a direct outlet, someone who can drag them up the pitch when they are pinned back. On his day, Traoré still offers exactly that.
Other options fade as Depor circle
Not long ago, the narrative around Traoré pointed elsewhere. A reunion with his former Fulham manager Marco Silva at Benfica had been floated, but that trail has gone quiet. Interest from Turkish Super Lig side Samsunspor has also been mentioned during this window, yet nothing has materialised.
Deportivo, freshly promoted and hunting smart deals, now look like one of the clearest concrete possibilities. The sticking point, as Moretto noted, is money. The club will not stretch beyond their structure for a big-name gamble, no matter how tempting the upside.
West Ham move on
While Traoré weighs his next step, West Ham have already turned the page. Keeping hold of Jarrod Bowen was the key piece of business for the Hammers, and they have added Manor Solomon from Tottenham Hotspur to bolster the wide positions. Solomon can play on the right but is more at home on the left, giving them flexibility without needing Traoré’s profile.
For West Ham, the separation feels clean. For Deportivo, it could be an opportunity.
If the numbers line up and Traoré chooses a return to Spain, Riazor might soon have a winger capable of bringing a little chaos back to a club still chasing echoes of its glory days.
