Last Pundit Standing - finding the BBC's next football expertpublished at 17:47 8 July
17:47 8 July
Media caption,
The BBC's search to find a new football expert is under way, with 12 content creators competing in Last Pundit Standing to win a role as BBC Sport's next football content creator.
The first two episodes of the show - co-hosted by former Watford captain Troy Deeney and YouTuber and football presenter James Allcott - are available to watch on iPlayer, as well as BBC Sport's YouTube channel and TikTok account, with new episodes every week until 11 August.
The contestants, who were chosen from more than 400 applicants, will be whittled down through a series of tasks staged at iconic football locations as the creators are challenged by some of the biggest names in the game.
Gossip: Hammers remain interested in Dioufpublished at 07:41 8 July
07:41 8 July
West Ham are keeping a close eye on El Hadji Malick Diouf, with Slavia Prague manager Jindrich Trpisovsky confirming the Senegalese defender is set to leave the club. The Hammers face competition from Leeds United for the 20-year-old. (Standard), external
Meanwhile, Hammers defender Nayef Aguerd is a priority summer target for French side Marseille. (L'Equipe - in French), external
Kandolin joins as goalkeeper coachpublished at 16:17 4 July
16:17 4 July
Image source, West Ham's Club Website
West Ham United have appointed Linus Kandolin as the club's new men's first-team goalkeeper coach.
The 34-year-old joins from Swedish side IF Elfsborg, where he spent six years in the role and also contributed to the Sweden Under-21 national team's coaching staff.
Kandolin reunites with Hammers' head coach Graham Potter, having previously worked together at Ostersunds FK between 2015 and 2018.
He will link up with his new colleagues when West Ham's first-team squad return to Rush Green for pre-season training next week.
Hammers unveil 2025-26 home kitpublished at 09:09 3 July
09:09 3 July
Image source, West Ham United FC
West Ham have unveiled their new 2025-26 home kit, based on a "clean, minimalist aesthetic".
The shirt has blue detailing with a claret and blue striped V-collar and matching cuffs.
After last year's blue-filled club crest, the badge on the front of the shirt returns to full-colour.
The club say the new strip is a "true modern classic in the making" - choose your verdict over here.
'There's a pathway to the first team' - Hammers sign youngster Cummingspublished at 16:33 1 July
16:33 1 July
Image source, Getty Images
West Ham have signed Scotland youth international Daniel Cummings, following the expiration of his contract Celtic.
The 19-year-old has signed a long-term deal and will join Mark Robson's under-21 development squad.
Cummings signed his first professional contract with Celtic in the summer of 2022 and scored 29 goals in 37 appearances for the club's B team last season.
He made his senior debut for Brendan Rodgers' side at Aston Villa in the Champions League in January 2025.
"It feels amazing to join West Ham United, and it's a dream come true," said Cummings.
"When West Ham came calling, it was too good to say no, and I'm looking forward to getting started.
"Since day one, when Mark [Noble] was on the phone, he spoke so highly of everyone here and sold the club to me.
"I did a lot of research about the club and there's a pathway to the first team, and that's all you can ask for as a young player."
Kudus is sought after but is he regressing?published at 13:48 1 July
13:48 1 July
Noel Sliney BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Several of England's Champions League clubs are reportedly keen on Mohammed Kudus, whose sale could raise £60m-plus for West Ham's much-needed squad rebuild.
Kudus, 24, remains sought after despite being as underwhelming last season as he was electrifying in 2023-24 following a £38m move from Ajax.
He only scored five goals in the most recent campaign, down from 14 across all competitions in his debut season for the Hammers, and was often ineffective in the system preferred by head coach Graham Potter, who took charge in January and favours wing-backs over wingers.
Kudus was often utilised up front by Potter and seldom featured wide on the right, arguably his best position but one in which West Ham already have captain Jarrod Bowen.
For the second season running, Kudus attempted the most dribbles in the Premier League but his success rate dropped by 10% in 2024-25.
The Ghanaian's ability is not in question though and suitors will point to his 2023-24 numbers and a brilliant run and finish against Freiburg that season either side of spectacular acrobatic goals against Brentford and Manchester City.
West Ham announce betting company as new front-of-shirt sponsorpublished at 12:33 1 July
12:33 1 July
Image source, Getty Images
West Ham have confirmed a new front-of-shirt sponsor for the 2025-26 season by announcing a multi-year partnership with Irish betting firm Boyle Sports.
The company replaces the Hammers' existing front-of-shirt sponsor Betway, also a betting company.
The partnership comes despite Premier League clubs collectively agreeing in 2023 to withdraw gambling sponsorship from the front of their matchday shirts by the end of the 2025-26 season.
However, after the deadline, clubs will still be able to feature gambling brands in areas such as shirt sleeves and LED advertising.
It was also confirmed at the time that clubs would be allowed to secure new shirt-front deals before the deadline.
In the 2024-25 season, 11 top-flight teams had a gambling sponsor on the front of their shirts, an increase of three from the previous campaign.
The ban follows a consultation between the league, its clubs and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) as part of the government's ongoing review of current gambling legislation.
With the new sponsor unable to feature from the 2026-27 season, it is unclear who West Ham will have on the front of their shirts after next campaign.
Gossip: Four Premier League clubs eye Kuduspublished at 07:30 1 July
Rangers striker Hamza Igamane is closing in on an agreement to join Ligue 1 side Lille after Everton and West Ham United decided against pursuing the 22-year-old because they do not think he is ready for the Premier League. (Football Insider), external
Would Calvert-Lewin succeed at West Ham?published at 16:28 30 June
16:28 30 June
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on West Ham potentially being one of the clubs interested in acquiring the services of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Here are some of your comments:
Hugh: Calvert-Lewin is injury-prone and inconsistent at best. Could be another one for the West Ham rehab squad.
Shane: Seriously, 10 goals in 58 games. No ambition yet again if we sign him, surely there must be better options if the club wants anything out of the upcoming season.
Ollie: As a West Ham fan, this screams of us. Free, injury prone, very average, and plays best as a lone striker, which we know won't suit Potter from the Evan Ferguson experiment. David Sullivan is at it again.
However, comments did come in suggesting that Calvert-Lewin would be a shrewd signing with a point to prove.
Mark: Calvert-Lewin would be a good choice. He is a good header of the ball and can shoot with either foot, and at 28, has a few years left in him.
Dave: Calvert-Lewin by lunchtime 1 July, please. He is jaded at Everton, a new club, a new challenge, and he will be keen to impress.
Anon: As the answer to our prayers, no. As the answer to having an EPL-experienced striker to come on from the bench, and provided that it is an appropriate salary weighted heavily toward performance bonuses, yes.
Would you want Dominic Calvert-Lewin at West Ham?published at 13:32 30 June
With just 10 goals in 58 matches, Calvert-Lewin's form has dropped in recent seasons, but given the Hammers are yet to dip into the market this summer, would recruiting him on a free be an exciting signing?
West Ham overhaul off to a slow startpublished at 14:59 27 June
14:59 27 June
Noel Sliney BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
A transitional summer for West Ham has been more notable to date for the players who have left.
Stalwarts Lukasz Fabianski, Aaron Cresswell and Vladimir Coufal have all been released, with Michail Antonio potentially joining them when his contract expires on Monday. With 1,088 West Ham appearances between them, they leave a sizeable void to fill.
Danny Ings and Kurt Zouma have also departed as West Ham seek to overhaul an ageing squad. The average age of their Premier League starting XI last season was 28.8 years old, the joint oldest in the division along with Everton.
West Ham's solitary signing during the off-season has been French central defender Jean-Clair Todibo, who made 20 Premier League starts on loan from Nice in 2024-25 as the Hammers finished 14th.
The priority for head coach Graham Potter will surely be a striker, regardless of whether or not Antonio stays. Niclas Fullkrug only made six league starts and scored three goals last season, while Evan Ferguson's loan spell from Brighton did not work out.
The extent of West Ham's rebuild will also be shaped by the futures of two of their most valuable players: Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus.
Paqueta is awaiting the verdict of his recent spot-fixing trial and faces a possible lifetime ban if found guilty, while selling Kudus could be the club's most effective way of raising funds to reshape the squad.
Gossip: West Ham rival Wolves for Nice striker published at 07:50 27 June
07:50 27 June
West Ham are battling Wolves to sign £25m-rated Nice and Ivory Coast striker Evann Guessand, 23. (Mail), external
'The lads wanted him to sort his hair out!' Zamora on Tevezpublished at 09:28 23 June
09:28 23 June
Image source, Getty Images
Ex-West Ham striker Bobby Zamora has revealed the way Carlos Tevez was welcomed into the Hammers dressing room after his shock move at the start of the 2006-07 season.
"We had a really funny bunch of lads at West Ham, the majority were young English guys, so all on the same wavelength, all on the same banter," said Zamora.
"It was a very, very funny place.
"I remember, day one, Carlos coming in with his crazy hair. He had mad, mad hair and him not understanding a word of English, banter was flying with all of the lads.
"All the lads were like: 'Mate, your hair is horrendous, like, what? You are gonna have to get this sorted out'. He obviously had no idea, smiling away. That was a bit of an introduction for him to the changing room!"
Speaking on a special Football Daily podcast about Tevez's legacy, Zamora reflected on how he spearheaded West Ham's remarkable escape from relegation, including the winner at Manchester United on the final day.
"The great escape was memorable," Zamora said. "Going down to the last game of the season of course, which was Manchester United away. To come away with a win there - and obviously Carlos scoring. I'm claiming an assist on that.
"Carlos is certainly up there with the greatest South American strikers for sure."
Tevez's final day goal was controversial given the signings of both he and Mascherano had breached third-party ownership rules, leading to the threat of a points deduction as punishment.
However, the Premier League stopped short of this measure, fining the club £5.5m, but the Hammers had to pay relegated Sheffield United £20m after a tribunal process.
"Obviously, towards the back end of the season there was talk of court cases and point deductions," added Zamora.
"There was obviously the paper talk about what could happen, but we had no idea really."
Gossip: Chelsea retain Kudus interestpublished at 07:53 19 June
07:53 19 June
Chelsea have held further talks with West Ham about Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus, 24, but are prioritising a move for Borussia Dortmund's 20-year-old English winger Jamie Gittens. (Guardian), external
'I worry at the moment' - fans on Hammers' fixturespublished at 15:01 18 June
15:01 18 June
Image source, Getty Images
Following the release of the 2025-26 Premier League fixtures, we asked for your thoughts on the schedule and where West Ham might be after 10 games.
Here are some of your comments:
Colin: Sixteenth. Very concerned that David Sullivan and Karen Brady need to spend in the window, and they don't seem to be doing anything.
Dave: I suspect that unless this useless board invests well in new players we will be sitting in the bottom three. We need a new good spine to the team starting with a new keeper (either Burnley's,Southampton's, or both), centre-back, central midfielder and a centre-forward. We won't ever win the league title so we need to stop putting out under-strength teams in cup games and try to win some trophies. For us to move forward, there needs to be major changes within the board.
Conrad: Looking at them, 12-15 points hopefully.
John: Hopefully in the top 10. Graham Potter can do this by buying players who can bang in the goals and a goalkeeper who can keep them out. Must improve after finishing 14th last season.
Jason: After 10 games, I believe we will have a total of 10 points because as of yet haven't seen an improvement within the team.
Tyler: We have a really decent mix of games to start the season off with. With the right signings we could be seventh to 10th by Christmas.
Tony: I worry at the moment. No transfer activity of note and the current squad looks weak. Still hoping for a mid-table finish and a good cup run.
Graham: About fifth - if we are lucky.
Who does Opta think has the toughest first five games?published at 14:35 18 June
14:35 18 June
Opta has ranked the difficulty of each top-flight team's first five Premier League fixtures of the 2025-26 season.
According to Opta's model, Manchester United have the hardest start, followed by their opening-weekend opponents Arsenal and then Bournemouth.
Aston Villa's first five games have been ranked the easiest, alongside Crystal Palace.
Take a look below to see where your side places...
How it starts and how it endspublished at 11:28 18 June
11:28 18 June
Aside from the opening weekend's game against Sunderland and the final fixture of the season against Leeds United, all dates are subject to change as a result of broadcast and other requirements.
Festive schedule, final day - a rundown of West Ham's standout gamespublished at 09:47 18 June
09:47 18 June
Image source, Getty Images
West Ham's first derby of the 2025-26 Premier League season will be at London Stadium against Chelsea on the weekend of 23-24 August.
Graham Potter's side will then travel to Stamford Bridge at the end of January.
The Hammers will face 2024-25 runners-up Arsenal at the beginning of October while their two games against Tottenham are scheduled for the weekends of 13-14 September and 17-18 January.
Potter and his squad will also have their eyes on the end of November and February - the two dates they are due to face defending champions Liverpool.
And what about the schedule over Christmas and New Year? Well, West Ham travel to Manchester City on the weekend of 20 December before hosting Fulham in a London derby on Boxing day. Their final game of the year will be against Brighton and they then travel to Wolves for their first fixture of 2026.
Finally, the Irons will close their campaign against Leeds United on Sunday, 24 May 2026 - when all 10 matches will kick off at 16:00 BST.
League fixtures announced - how do you think West Ham will start?published at 09:00 18 June
09:00 18 June
West Ham will travel to newly promoted Sunderland in their opening game of the 2025-26 Premier League season.
The match will take place at 15:00 BST on Saturday, 16 August, with the Hammers' first home fixture against London rivals Chelsea on the weekend of 23-24 August.
