In June 1997, West was transferred to Italian side Internazionale, on a four-year deal. He made his competitive debut for the club in a 1–0 Coppa Italia victory over Foggia on 3 September 1997. Subsequently, West scored his first goal for Internazionale in a 2–1 Serie A win against Atalanta on 9 November 1997. He also scored the extra time winning goal against Schalke 04 in the 1997–98 UEFA Cup quarter-finals. Eventually, Internazionale won the competition led by Ronaldo and Iván Zamorano, with West being sent off in the final against Lazio. In the next season, West made 21 league appearances, as the club missed securing a spot in UEFA competitions. He failed to make any appearance in the 1999–2000 season, being three times an unused substitute.