West Ham United head coach Graham Potter has the unenviable task of rebuilding a squad this summer.
Stalwarts Lukasz Fabianski, Aaron Cresswell, Vladimir Coufal and Michail Antonio could all leave upon the expiry of their contracts. Coufal is frustrated talks over a new deal have reached an impasse, there is uncertainty over the futures of Edson Alvarez, Konstantious Mavropanos and Lucas Paqueta, while promising midfielder George Earthy, who is on loan at Championship side Bristol City, has a year remaining on his deal.
There are a number of issues Potter and Kyle Macaulay, West Ham;’s head of recruitment, need to address in the coming months.
Here, The Athletic runs though the contract situation of every squad member and explores who is at risk of leaving.
Goalkeepers
Alphonse Areola (contract expires 2027)
Areola, 32, has vindicated Graham Potter’s decision to make him his No 1 since January’s 1-1 draw against Aston Villa. The goalkeeper position is one of the strongest areas of West Ham’s squad, with former manager Julen Lopetegui heavily rotating between Areola and Lukasz Fabianski.
Lukasz Fabianski (contract expires 2025)
The 39-year-old has made 215 appearances for West Ham since joining from Swansea City in June 2018. However, Fabianksi is entering the final months of his contract and there have been no talks over an extension. Fabianski has not played since a 2-0 home loss to Crystal Palace in January. The former Poland international wants to extend his spell at West Ham, but the club would prefer to sign a low-cost reserve.
Wes Foderingham (contract expires 2026)
Foderingham, 34, is yet to make his first-team debut for West Ham since joining on a free transfer from Sheffield United last summer. He has been third choice this season and has been on the bench in nine of West Ham’s 29 league games. Foderingham, who signed a two-year deal, featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Brentford. Potter’s side lost 1-0 but it was an opportunity for the head coach to look at the former Rangers goalkeeper and other fringe players.
Full-backs
Aaron Cresswell (contract expires 2025)
Cresswell’s soon-to-expire deal does not include an extension option. The 34-year-old has been a great mentor for promising defender Ollie Scarles, who is viewed as Cresswell’s long-term successor. The former England international has performed well as a left-sided centre-back in Potter’s 5-3-2 formation, and his leadership and recent displays warrant a contract extension.
Vladimir Coufal (contract expires 2025)
West Ham rejected multiple offers from Fulham for Coufal on deadline day in the winter transfer window earlier year. In January 2024, West Ham the club also activated the one-year option in Coufal’s contract, as opposed to giving him a new deal.
The right-back is away on international duty with Czech Republic and in an interview with Czech outlet iDNES, Coufal expressed his frustration at his current situation and wishes to clarify his future.
“I’m torn about all this because West Ham didn’t let me go to Fulham on deadline day,” Coufal said.
“I’ll be 33 and it made sense to me (to move), although I love West Ham and could imagine finishing my career there. As for Fulham, I would stay in the Premier League and even in London. We really like it there. My son has started playing in the West Ham academy and is doing better than I expected. My daughter will be going to school next year.
“How do I explain to them that we are moving to a completely different place? That is why I need to hear from West Ham so that I can consider what to do next.”
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (contract expires 2031)
The full-back has been a consistent performer following his £15million arrival from Manchester United at the start of the season.
Wan-Bissaka’s marked offensive improvement has impressed Potter, with the 27-year-old having registered two goals and two assists in 28 league appearances. Returning to London has been a key factor behind the full-back feeling settled.
He came through the ranks at Crystal Palace before leaving for £50m to join Manchester United, but Wan-Bissaka was somewhat maligned at his former club and struggled to justify his transfer fee. A much-needed fresh start has culminated in a career revival.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has impressed in his first season as a West Ham player (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Emerson Palmieri (contract expires in 2026)
West Ham have the option to extend Palmieri’s contract by a further year. The Italy international lost his place to Scarles for games against Arsenal, Leicester City and Newcastle United, but was restored to the XI for West Ham’s last game before the international break, a 1-1 draw against Everton. Palmieri is happy at West Ham and is settled in London with his family. Potter still views the full-back as an important member of the squad.
Ollie Scarles (contract expires in 2028)
Scarles is the club’s most promising prospect since Declan Rice. The 19-year-old has shown great temperament since receiving his first domestic start in January’s FA Cup loss against Aston Villa. He was rewarded with a call-up to the England Under-20s and made his debut in their 1-1 draw against Portugal.
Scarles’ deal expires in 2028 but talks over an improved deal to reflect his transition to the first team will take place at the end of the season.
Centre-backs
Jean-Clair Todibo (contract expires 2025)
Todibo had interest from Juventus and Newcastle United before joining on loan from Nice last summer. Ligue 1 side Marseille enquired about Todibo’s availability in January but the centre-back informed his representatives he was happy, and had no interest in leaving.
West Ham plan to honour their obligation to buy Todibo at the end of the season. The 25-year-old is frustrated that he has struggled with injuries but when fully fit, he has shown his defensive attributes. He is comfortable in possession and his defensive partnership with Maximilian Kilman has potential.
Kurt Zouma (contract expires 2025)
After the pre-season game against Dagenham & Redbridge, a photo went viral on X of Zouma’s knees being heavily taped. Sources with knowledge of the situation, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, say the 30-year-old’s knees can no longer handle the intensity of Premier League football.
Zouma joined Saudi Pro League side Al Orobah on a season-long loan in August. The centre-back’s deal expires at the end of the season, although West Ham have a one-year option, but the club expects the former France international to stay in Saudi.
Maximilian Kilman (contract expires 2031)
Kilman has played the most minutes (2,539) for West Ham this season. The centre-back has been a solid addition to the squad and hopes to earn senior recognition for his country.
“It is definitely a big aim for me (to play for England),” Kilman told BBC Sport last summer. “I have been competing against other Premier League central defenders in the last couple of years and I have been consistent. I want to get as high as I can as a player, so playing for England would be a huge honour.”
Nayef Aguerd (contract expires 2027)
Aguerd is an integral member of Real Sociedad’s defence. Since joining the Spanish team loan last summer, the centre-back has been an important player for manager Imanol Alguacil.
In December, the Moroccan defender admitted he is uncertain about his long-term future at West Ham.
“I came here to find my best form again, first of all because I wasn’t playing for West Ham and I want to enjoy every moment here,” Aguerd told Marca in December. “I still have two years left on my contract with West Ham but now I’m only thinking about helping Real to go as far as possible… I don’t know if I’ll have to go back, I don’t know if I’ll stay here, I don’t know if I’ll go somewhere else. It’s not in my hands.”
Nayef Aguerd, right, is spending this season on loan at Real Sociedad (Ion Alcoba Beitia/Getty Images)
Konstantinos Mavropanos (contract expires 2028)
The Greece international has never been viewed as a first-choice defensive option. When Potter switched to a 5-3-2 system, Potter favoured playing either Cresswell or Coufal alongside Kilman and Todibo. Mavropanos’s long-term future remains uncertain, with the club keen to augment their defence this summer. Adam Webster, the Brighton & Hove Albion defender, is among their options.
Kaelan Casey (contract expires 2027)
The youngster made his Premier League debut against Bournemouth in December but he is yet to play under Potter, and has mainly featured for the under-21s.
Casey had loan interest from EFL clubs last summer and in January. West Ham were reluctant to let the defender leave because he was needed for squad depth. The 20-year-old, who has been capped at England Under-20 level, is highly thought of behind the scenes.
Midfielders
Tomas Soucek (contract expires 2027)
Soucek is on track to registering 10 goals this season, a feat he has achieved twice before as a West Ham player. The midfielder is a key member of Potter’s team, as shown in recent performances against Leicester City and Everton. The 30-year-old has two years remaining on his deal and intends to see out the rest of his career at West Ham.
Edson Alvarez (contract expires 2028)
Alvarez has struggled with consistency and his discipline this season. The midfielder has received six yellow cards and was sent off in fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Liverpool. It is why West Ham view Angel Gomes, the Lille midfielder, as a potential replacement for Alvarez. In January, West Ham rejected a loan offer from Monaco for the Mexico international.
Guido Rodriguez (contract expires 2027)
Rodriguez was a first-team regular under Lopetegui. Following his sacking in January, the midfielder has been an unused substitute in five of the last seven games under Potter. Discussions over Rodriguez’s future will take place during the off-season.
George Earthy (contract expires 2026)
Earthy memorably scored his first senior goal in West Ham’s win over Luton Town in May 2024. This season, he has gained first-team experience while on loan at Bristol City, under former West Ham academy coach Liam Manning.
The midfielder’s contract expires at the end of next season.
Freddie Potts (contract expires 2029)
Potts will be given an opportunity to impress in pre-season before a decision is made on whether he will go out on loan again. This season, the 21-year-old has impressed on loan at Championship side Portsmouth.
Potts, the son of academy coach and former defender Steve Potts, enjoyed similar success at League One side Wycombe Wanderers in 2023-24. He was the club’s player of the season and also helped Wycombe reach the final of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, where they lost to Peterborough United.
“I want to be a West Ham player,” Potts told the club’s website in February. “I want to start in the West Ham first team. That’s always been a dream of mine. However it happens, that’s the mission that I want to try and achieve.”
James Ward-Prowse (contract expires 2027)
One of Potter’s first acts as head coach was to recall Ward-Prowse from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest. Internally, it was viewed as a mistake letting the midfielder leave last summer. Ward-Prowse is likeable and a valuable presence behind the scenes. The 30-year-old is part of Potter’s plans for the foreseeable future.
Carlos Soler (contract expires 2025)
West Ham have no intention of converting Soler’s loan into a permanent deal. Since joining from Paris-Saint Germain, the midfielder has not had the desired impact, with a paltry return of one goal and one assist in 24 league appearances.
West Ham are unlikely to pursue a permanent deal for Paris Saint-Germain loanee Carlos Soler (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Andy Irving (contract expires 2026)
Irving had a solid performance in his first start against Chelsea in February. Since then, he has only played one minute since that defeat. The midfielder had interest from European clubs in January but wanted to see out the season. A summer departure is expected, with Irving not guaranteed game time under Potter.
Lewis Orford (contract expires 2029)
Orford was handed his Premier League debut against Crystal Palace in January. Similar to Casey, he has mainly featured for the under-21s since, but the club intend on loaning out the midfielder next season to gain first-team experience.
Attacking midfielders and wingers
Lucas Paqueta (contract expires 2027)
Paqueta’s long-term future at the London Stadium will become much clearer once his trial for alleged betting breaches is finished. The Brazilian playmaker maintains his innocence.
Prior to being charged by the Football Association in May 2024, Manchester City were exploring a deal to sign Paqueta.
Mohammed Kudus (contract expires 2028)
Kudus’s form has nosedived since the turn of the year. He has not had a goal involvement for West Ham since the 1-1 draw against Brighton on December 21. His £85m release clause becomes active this summer.
Crysencio Summerville (contract expires 2029)
Maxwel Cornet (contract expires 2027)
The winger has seldom impressed since joining from Burnley in August 2022. His underwhelming loan spell at Southampton was cut short in January. Shortly afterwards, Cornet joined Italian side Genoa and has two goals and one assist in his first six appearances. This summer, West Ham will listen to offers for the attacker.
Jarrod Bowen (contract expires 2030)
The England international signed a long-term deal in October 2023 and is the face of the club. Bowen’s contract does not include a buyout clause and the attacker wants to retire at West Ham.
Bowen continues to elevate his game and remains a prominent figure. Under Potter, Bowen is set to spearhead their aspirations for European football next season.
Jarrod Bowen is under contract at West Ham until the summer of 2030 (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Callum Marshall (contract expires 2027)
In an interview with The Athletic earlier this month, Marshall outlined how he intends to impress Potter in pre-season.
Talks are not underway over a potential contract extension but could begin upon his return from a solid loan spell at Huddersfield Town.
The 20-year-old has registered 10 goals and four assists across 39 appearances this season. Mark Noble, West Ham’s sporting director, Carlton Cole, the loan manager, and Mark Robson, the under-21s manager, regularly check in on Marshall. He has played a big role in Huddersfield’s push for promotion from League One.
Luis Guilherme (contract expires 2029)
The £25m signing of Guilherme from Palmeiras was viewed as one for the future but the 19-year-old has not impressed enough in training, hence his lack of game time to date.
He played for the club’s under-21s in September and has made seven substitute appearances in the league, totalling 50 minutes. A loan move this summer would be best for all parties.
Strikers
Michail Antonio (contract expires 2025)
Antonio is still recovering from a broken leg he sustained in a car crash in December. The 34-year-old, who received a warm reception when he returned to the London Stadium before the 1-0 loss to Newcastle United on March 10, will not feature again this season.
Antonio last featured in the 3-1 away victory against Leicester City on December 3. His future will be decided at the end of the season.
Danny Ings (contract expires 2025)
Ings is not guaranteed game time and is expected to be released at the end of the season. The 32-year-old forward is behind Bowen, Evan Ferguson and Niclas Fullkrug in the pecking order.
Niclas Fullkrug (contract expires 2028)
Fullkrug has been sidelined since sustaining a hamstring injury in the FA Cup loss against Aston Villa in January but the German striker has returned to training and is nearing full fitness, with the middle of April viewed as a potential return.
There is a possibility Fullkrug could be Potter’s sole recognised striker for the club’s pre-season tour of America in July.
Evan Ferguson (contract expires 2025)
Ferguson joined West Ham on a straight loan from Brighton & Hove Albion in January but he is still nearing full fitness. As a result, Ferguson has struggled to have an impact in his last five games. Jonathan David, the Canadian Lille forward, is a player West Ham may pursue should they decide not to convert Ferguson’s deal into a permanent deal.
(Top photo: Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images)
