West Ham begin a new era under the management of ex-Real Madrid and Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui. With a wealth of exciting new arrivals, optimism is high at the London Stadium.
West Ham – Premier League Season Preview 2024/25
Last season: 9th
Title odds: 150/1
TFF prediction: 9th
West Ham Transfers 2024/25
In: Max Kilman, Wes Foderingham, Luis Guilherme, Jean-Clair Todibo, Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Fullkrug, Guido Rodriguez, Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Out: Thilo Kehrer, Ben Johnson, Nathan Trott, Said Benrahma, Flynn Downes, Callum Marshall (loan), George Earthy (loan).
West Ham head into the new season bubbling with excitement with Julen Lopetegui having replaced David Moyes in the dugout. Moyes provided West Ham with their greatest stability in the Premier League era and a European trophy, but his cautious approach was unpopular with the fanbase. When the safety-first Hammers started leaking goals last season, change was inevitable.
Lopetegui brings a wealth of experience and new ideas, while the Spaniard has been backed in the transfer window. Niclas Fullkrug, Guido Rodriguez and Jean-Clair Todibo can all be considered coups, while Crysencio Summerville is an excitement machine and Max Kilman and Aaron Wan-Bissaka offer Premier League-proven solidity.
Signing No8 of the Summer ✍️ pic.twitter.com/2Xfq4svPZc
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 14, 2024
Having had more than a taste of continental competition in recent seasons, West Ham’s ambitions will be to return to that stage. Fixing their defensive fragility and implementing a new style on a team well-versed in Moyes’ methods will be key to starting the Lopetegui regime positively.
Jarrod Bowen has been named as the new captain of the side and will look to build on a career-best campaign that delivered 16 league goals in 2023/24. In Bowen, Mohammed Kudus, Summerville and Fullkrug, the Hammers have a forward line that should bring the fun-factor back to the London Stadium
Key player: Jarrod Bowen
Bowen’s match-winning goal to win the Europa Conference League has already etched his name into West Ham folklore but the winger now has the chance to earn legend status in London.
Named captain in the summer, his goals and creativity will be crucial to the Irons, after scoring 16 times and providing six assists in 2023/24. Still just 27, he has emerged as one of the most effective wide players in the Premier League, with end product and insatiable work-rate. Keeping him in the capital is a coup for the Hammers.
Captain Bowen ©️ pic.twitter.com/Yv2txNoTaY
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 15, 2024
One to watch: Crysencio Summerville
Leeds United’s failure to earn promotion led to the inevitable exit of Crysencio Summerville, who has been snapped up by West Ham for a fee of £25m. The Dutch winger scored 20 goals in all competitions last season to earn the Championship Player of the Season award and hopes are high for him this season.
Summerville adds to a West Ham forward line full of players willing to take on defenders and make things happen, while at 22 his potential to go up more levels is clear. An impressive campaign in 2024/25 could see Summerville break into the Netherlands set-up.
