West Ham United

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Sunderland begin their first Premier League campaign since 2017 at home to a West Ham United side hoping to improve following a mixed a start under Graham Potter. BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes before the opener.

Can Sunderland spring a surprise on top-flight return?

Sunderland return to the Premier League for the first time in eight years as the makings of a surprise package.

The newly promoted team have so far spent a net total of around £100m on transfers and although Jobe Bellingham has departed to the Bundesliga, 11 new arrivals have sparked hopes that rather than simply surviving, Sunderland may even prosper on their return to top-flight football.

Only Burnley have signed more players so far this summer and the Black Cats' new recruits may well take time to gel.

A crucial part of their transfer policy has been to attract players with Premier League experience: Sunderland began the summer transfer window with a squad totalling just 25 Premier League appearances, and only two starts, split between Simon Moore, Ian Poveda, Patrick Roberts, Leo Hjelde and Niall Huggins.

They have since signed Granit Xhaka, who made 225 Premier League appearances during his seven-year stint with Arsenal, along with Brighton winger Simon Adingra (60 Premier League appearances) and Chelsea forward Marc Guiu (three Premier League appearances).

Hammers aiming to improve after tough 2024-25

Sunderland face a West Ham side who underwhelmed following the arrival of Graham Potter last season. The Hammers averaged 1.11 points per game and a 28% win rate in Potter's 18 Premier League matches in charge in 2024-25, lower than predecessor Julen Lopetegui's 1.15 pts per game and 30% win rate last season.

Potter's West Ham also lagged behind in various metrics as his possession-based style of football struggled to take hold.

Potter 'happy' with transfer window

In contrast to the opening-day opponents, West Ham's transfer window has been a little quieter. Potter has said he is "very happy" with the club's business despite losing Mohammed Kudus to London rivals Tottenham for £55m.

The Irons have added experienced Southampton full-back Kyle Walker-Peters on a free transfer, along with Leicester City goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and Slavia Prague defender El Hadji Malick Diouf, while their search for goals has so far been pinned on the signing of free agent Callum Wilson following his departure from Newcastle.

It is a risk for an injury-prone player who turns 34 in February – Wilson managed only two Premier League starts last season and scored just once in 22 appearances in all competitions.

West Ham, though, have been boosted by the availability of key midfielder Lucas Paqueta, who escaped punishment after a spot-fixing investigation by the FA for alleged deliberate bookings was found to be unproven.

Since joining from Lyon for an initial £36.5m in August 2022, Paqueta tops the club's rankings for tackles, duels won, possession won and successful passes while only Jarrod Bowen has created more chances and provided a greater tally of assists.

Hanging on to the 55-cap Brazil international until the end of the transfer window could be West Ham's best business of the summer.

Image source, Getty Images

Let's have a look at who BBC Sport's TV and radio commentators have picked as the West Ham player that will be worth watching out for in the next few months.

El Hadji Malick Diouf

Age: 20 Position: Left-back or left wing-back Country: Senegal

Ian Dennis: There were a number of Senegal players who caught the eye when they beat England at the City Ground in June, but none more so than El Hadji Malick Diouf.

During my commentary for 5 Live that night, I'd mentioned interest from Brighton & Hove Albion, so I'm not surprised to see him in the Premier League, and West Ham have a real gem.

Diouf can play as a left-back or a wing-back, and has the ability to get up and down. He is a dynamic player with excellent crossing ability and somebody who will offer a real threat in an attacking sense.

He scored seven goals for Slavia Prague last season, and I think he will become a real crowd favourite at West Ham.

Read the full piece here

Image source, Getty Images

We have looked into the age profile of West Ham's players for the 2025-26 season and recorded what percentage of minutes each of them played last campaign.

For the purpose of this exercise, we have deemed those under 24 as youth, between 24 and 30 as in their peak years and anyone over 30 to be a veteran.

The green represents new signings, who naturally did not play, red are those that have since left the club and yellow are all those that remain.

We can see a lot of West Ham's groups sit in the peak age category for players from 24-30. The loss of Evan Ferguson and in the youthful category was softened by the recruitment of 20-year-old El Hadji Malick Diouf (pictured).

The squad looks well balanced from an age perspective, with a handful of young names and veterans.

The question is, will the Hammers be able to capitalise on the age of the group?

West Ham boss Graham Potter has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Sunderland at Stadium of Light (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Crysencio Summerville "is in the last stages of his rehab" but is unavailable for the season opener and so is midfielder George Earthy who "sustained an injury early in pre-season."

• Potter said he has been "delighted" with how his squad have trained over the summer so is "very excited to be back."

• On starting the season away at promoted Sunderland: "It's going to be a great atmosphere, and a big test, but we're ready and looking forward to it. We need to make sure we match the intensity and positivity of the environment."

• He said West Ham will continue to scour the transfer market while the window remains open, but added: "It's not just about signing any players - it is about signing the right players who can help the team improve."

• More on possible incomings: "You have to balance the PSR challenges with trying to improve the team. It isn't straightforward just to bring players in."

• On new signing Callum Wilson: "He brings experience, a know-how and a quality which isn't easy to find. He's a proven Premier League striker with fantastic mentality. We have to help him enjoy his football and be on the pitch. That's what we are confident about."

• Potter was bullish on West Ham's chances for success: "The potential here is huge and the ambition should be huge because it's a huge club."

• On whether they can achieve a European spot this season: "If you can get that bit with the players and supporters where everyone is aligned and together, then anything can happen."

• On the possibility of seeing academy players breaking into the team this season: "What you have to understand about West Ham - and every Premier League club - is that we're not development clubs, we're here to win and be competitive. The academy is an important part of our club, and we want to give opportunities if it's right and the players are ready to take them."

Listen to live commentary of Sunderland v West Ham on BBC Radio 5 Live from 15:00 BST on Saturday

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has offered up his annual predictions:

13) West Ham

Last season: 14th

It was an underwhelming first few months for West Ham under Graham Potter, but it must be remembered he is a builder as opposed to a quick-fix manager.

Additions looks sensible, with more to come.

Kyle Walker-Peters and El-Hadji Malick Diouf - from Southampton and Slavia Prague respectively - have strengthened defence.

Callum Wilson - signed on a free transfer from Newcastle - will be a bustling threat in attack if he can stay fit, while Mads Hermansen adds real depth and quality in the goalkeeping department after coming in from Leicester City.

And, of course, West Ham still have the outstanding Jarrod Bowen.

More incomings may push the prediction higher but I'm not really expecting fireworks in east London this season.

Read the full piece

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Including striker Michail Antonio - whose exit as a player was confirmed on 7 August - West Ham have released six senior members of Graham Potter's squad since the end of last season.

Striker Callum Wilson and defender Kyle Walker-Peters have arrived on free transfers, while the £55m generated by the sale of Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham Hotspur has been spent on goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and El Hadji Malick Diouf, as well as paying a large chunk of the £34.2m it cost to turn Jean-Clair Todibo's loan from Nice into a permanent deal.

Many West Ham supporters think it is not enough.

Potter accepts the club's recruitment chiefs will keep looking for targets, but cautions against the temptation to buy for the sake of it.

"I don't think we needed drastic change," he said.

"It's tempting to think that the solution is going to be external, but, from my perspective, the focus should always be on the players you have - with an eye on improving.

"When we arrived, there was, for different reasons, a low-trust environment. When you change the manager halfway through the season, there's a feeling something isn't quite working.

"If you look back over a 12-month period up to that point, the team had conceded a lot of goals, which is an indication that, maybe, something wasn't quite right on a cultural or foundation level.

"It was something we started to do a lot of work with last season. We did make some progress, but pre-season gives you a chance to make more of an inroad, which I think we have done."

Read the full piece

Image source, Getty Images

The draw for the second round of the Carabao Cup has been made.

The EFL Cup remains regionalised in the early rounds, with the draw split into Northern and Southern sections until round three.

Here are the ties involving Premier League clubs:

Northern section

Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United

Burnley v Derby County

Everton v Mansfield Town

Grimsby Town v Manchester United

Sunderland v Huddersfield Town

Southern section

Bournemouth v Brentford

Fulham v Bristol City

Oxford United v Brighton

Wolves v West Ham United

The 23 second-round ties will take place during the week beginning 25 August.

See the full draw over here

Have you got a question about West Ham or is there a topic you want more information on? Have you spotted a Hammers theme or trend that needs further investigation?

Well, this season we're making it easier for you to get in touch and ask - and we will do our best to use our expertise here at BBC Sport to give you direct answers.

Our team can call upon a network of contacts - including our reporters, pundits and other experts - to find out everything you need to know.

No question is too big or too small, so fire away using the link below and we will answer the best of them throughout the campaign.

Ask about West Ham here

And find out more about BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything service here

Southampton have rejected West Ham's opening offer, worth £30m plus add-ons, for 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

James Jones
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

A couple of months ago, there was a lot of concern throughout the West Ham fanbase that the coming season could end up being a catastrophe.

Rumours of the club needing to sell before they could buy, talk of several players wanting out and Graham Potter still having so much pressure on him to achieve David Moyes-level success at London Stadium.

It was not just West Ham fans fearing the worst either. Neutrals and pundits alike were all expressing their fears of another relegation battle.

But fast forward to the present day and things are a little - albeit only a little - more positive.

We have only lost one pre-season match and overall the performances from Potter's side have been positive enough. Not perfect by any means, but there have been enough positives to suggest things might not be as drastic as first feared.

One of the main reasons for that is the very obvious team ethic on display within the squad.

West Ham's social media activity over the summer has displayed a group of players who clearly enjoy each other's company, get on extremely well and really want to play for the badge. That is a solid foundation for something better than we got last season.

Yes, there is still a lot of work to be done in the transfer window. Another central midfielder is a must, as is a younger, more prolific striker to assist the ageing duo of Niclas Fullkrug and Callum Wilson.

But fears of a relegation battle have mostly been transformed into cautious optimism that maybe, just maybe, Potter can oversee something of a more solid season in east London. One that does not involve fears of the drop or a run of unacceptable performances.

By no means are we even thinking about a return to the top seven just yet, but there are signs we might actually be heading in the right direction again.

As always, patience and time will be required, but I really do think Potter might be on to something right now.

Find more from James Jones at We Are West Ham, external

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West Ham are preparing a bid for Southampton and Portugal Under-21s midfielder Mateus Fernandes, who is valued at £30m. (Guardian), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on whether West Ham are ready for the new season as they prepare to kick off at Sunderland on Saturday.

Here are some of your comments:

Michael: We still need two more better midfielders. But we could do with offloading a couple, perhaps three, of the current midfield that aren't good enough, like Cornet, Rodriguez and Ward-Prowse. None of them offer us anything in the modern game. Need pace and ability to run with the ball.

Bob: The most positive thing I have seen in the pre-season games is the attitude. Unlike last season, they all seem happy. If they're happy with each other then they will want to work for each other.

Mike: No, we're nowhere near ready. Graham Potter has a mountain to climb and to achieve survival we need to totally revamp our midfield. They are way too pedestrian, have no real ball-player and lack goals everywhere. We need to trust our youth players, particularly Potts, Scales and Pearson, who all look like they would belong in the Premier League. That will add energy and pace. If we don't do something then we're in for another woefully poor season.

Rich: Ever the optimist, I think they are, despite not making a huge splash in the transfer market. The vibe in the camp feels good and I'm expecting a 'Paquetenaissance' now he's free from scandal. Some of last year's 'busts' may yet be vindicated in Guilherme, Summerville, and Fullkrug (who by the way seems like quite the leader).

Luke: As much as I want to be optimistic, I can't shake the feeling that West Ham just aren't quite ready for the season ahead. The glaring hole in midfield, with no significant signing to plug it, leaves us worryingly light in the engine room. Potter's preference for slow, patient build-up play has its merits, but too often risks leaving us looking toothless in the final third. There are positives, though - the big question mark over Paqueta's future seems to be leaning our way for now, the defence looks more organised than it has in years, and the emergence of Freddie Potts and Malick Diouf brings a real spark of excitement. Still, with the current squad and style, my head says we're more likely to finish somewhere between 12th and 16th, even if my heart hopes otherwise.

Mathew: All summer we have been calling out for a midfield powerhouse, but seemed to get everything but that. Rodriguez and Alvarez are players of the past and should no longer be featuring in games. And still, many years have passed, but a young striker has not been signed, to my dismay.

Pre-season is completed and the countdown to the 2025-26 season is on.

It's been a busy summer at West Ham with the departure of four long-serving players and Mohammed Kudus joining Tottenham.

The Hammers start the season at Sunderland on Saturday - but are they ready?

Get in touch

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham defeated Ligue 1 side Lille on penalties after a 1-1 draw in their final pre-season campaign on Saturday.

Former Chelsea and Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud opened the scoring for his new club with a fine touch and finish in first-half injury time but Niclas Fullkrug levelled late on when he slotted home from a Tomas Soucek cutback.

Despite the Germany striker missing his penalty in the resulting shootout, goalkeeper Alfonse Areola saved two spotkicks to give the Hammers victory.

Image source, Getty Images

Mads Hermansen says he believes West Ham are a "good fit" for his style of play after his move from Leicester was confirmed on Saturday.

The 25-year-old has signed a five-year contract at London Stadium with a one-year option after departing the Foxes following their relegation to the Championship.

"I'm happy to join West Ham United," he said. "I've felt that West Ham would be a good fit for me and my style of play for a long time.

It feels natural to be here - it was a very easy decision.

"I've heard a lot of great things about the club. I played West Ham twice last season and playing at London Stadium was a great experience. It's an amazing stadium with loud, passionate fans.

"It's what you dream of as a footballer and I can't wait to play in front of 62,500 fans as a West Ham player."

Hermansen played 27 times in the Premier League for Leicester last season and impressed despite the club's difficult campaign ending in relegation.

"The fans can expect me to be brave and bring good energy to help the team in the best way I can," he added.

"This is a great step in my career. I have huge ambitions and I can't wait to get started."

You have been sharing your stories and photos about why you love West Ham.

Here is a final selection of your submissions, but do make sure you scroll down this page to see all the best responses from throughout the week:

John: I watched the 1980 cup final on my grandma's black and white TV. She persuaded me to cheer for the underdog as my dad was an Arsenal fan. West Ham won, and I was a Hammer forever. My dad still swears that Trevor Brooking was bending over to do up his boot laces when he headed in the winner.

Frank: I remember standing on a milk crate with my dad - I think we won a corner and Moore was picking up the ball right in front of me. I was maybe seven years old but I remember it still vividly thinking: "Wow, that's Bobby!" Hurst was still playing for us and Peters was on the pitch (playing for Spurs). I think Pop Robson was playing as well because I recall asking my dad why he was called Pop! Happy memories.

We asked for your views on whether Mads Hermansen is a good choice to be West Ham's new number one or whether you would have preferred another option.

Here are some of your comments:

James: A new keeper is a high priority and finding one with Premier League experience is even more important. It should prove a good challenge between him and Areola for the starting spot.

Geoff: Typical West Ham - go for an adequate, rather than an excellent player. Shows ownership are happy to keep making money with no real ambition for trophies.

Simon: An excellent choice and just the sort of young player, with an excellent record at Leicester, that we should be buying and building the future team around.

Shahid: Only time will tell. It seems in recent times if we are lucky we get one or two seasons where the keeper plays well and then deteriorates drastically.

Mike: Good news. A fairly reliable goalkeeper at about the right age for experience and one who did well in a team that weren't that great defensively. Unfortunately recently, Areola hasn't been up to the form he had when we first got him so Mads should be an upgrade.

Martin: Will be an excellent signing. Areola is a decent shot stopper, but struggles in other areas, especially playing out from the back. A couple of mistakes with that and his confidence looks shot, so Mads to go straight in as number one for me and will definitely help to improve our defence this season.

Mike: I'm all for improving the team but can't help feeling sorry for Areola. One of the best shot stoppers in the league and because he isn't a natural ball player, he's going to get side-lined. I know I'm old fashioned but I like my goalkeepers to be good at preventing goals. Then give the ball to an outfield player to move the ball forward.

Ashley: We know that Potter wants to use a goalkeeper in build-up. It creates an extra passing option to eradicate a man-to-man high press. However, Areola, for all his shot stopping qualities, has shown that neither his long or short passing is up to scratch. Therefore, after spending the first month on the bench, I expect Hermansen to quickly take over as first choice and to stay there for the season.

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham have agreed a fee of about 20m with Leicester City for Denmark goalkeeper Mads Hermansen - and we want your views.

Personal terms not expected to be an issue with the 25-year-old seen as a good fit for Graham Potter's style. Hermansen impressed last season despite the Foxes' relegation from the Premier League.

The Hammers are in the market for another goalkeeper after Lukasz Fabianski left at the end of last season and have Casper Ankergren, who worked with Hermansen at Brondby, as their goalkeeping coach.

They have also been interested in Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor.

So, what do you think? Is Hermansen a good choice to be West Ham's new number one or would you have preferred another option?

Let us know here