Max Kilman has arguably been West Ham’s best player so far this season.
Eyebrows were raised when West Ham decided to pay £40m to Wolves for his services earlier in the summer, but after three Premier League outings he has already shown that actually, that transfer fee may turn out to be something of a bargain.
Indeed, it’s still early days, but the early signs are that he’s going to be an integral part of Julen Lopetegui‘s defence for years to come.
Fans are already very impressed with his quality and level of performances, but he’s only gone and strengthened that bond with the kind of admission that will have ever Hammers fan desperate for him to be a huge success in east London.
That’s because he’s admitted that he’s actually a local boy, having grown up in West Ham before moving to north-west London at the age of nine.
He told West Ham’s official website: “Not many people know this, but I’m actually from West Ham. I grew up in West Ham until I was nine, and then I moved to north-west London. So, being closer to home and closer to friends and family is really good.
“It is [the perfect move]. I went to West Ham Church school, and my dad used to go to West Ham Park, so obviously I’m very local to West Ham and grew up here. It feels like I’m back home.”
If West Ham fans don’t love him just a little bit more after that admission, then I don’t know what will.
Having that local connection between players and fans has always been incredibly important at West Ham. Fans have notoriously been very loyal and protective over their local boys who have come through the academy and played for West Ham, and while Kilman isn’t a product of the club’s youth setup, his local connection to the club will be enough for fans to take him to their hearts.
Kilman has also spoken about his pride in being able to wear the famous claret and blue, and has proven that he understands what it means to the fans for the players to give their all for the shirt.
“It was a huge move, coming to a massive Club like West Ham, but you can see why with the fan base and the type of players, as we’ve got some top-quality players,” he continued.
“So, of course, it’s a great move. I’m extremely proud that I can play for this Club, and I just want to give my best every time I put on the shirt.
“It’s a massive fan base, so to get their support and to get their backing is really nice. But I just need to do my best to repay them and all the players, staff, and everyone at the Club.”
Alongside his local connection to the club, Kilman has said all the right things and shown on the pitch that he’s got what it takes to be a success at West Ham.
He knows there’s still a lot of work to do but he is already hinting that he could join a long list of players who arrived at the club and immediately understood the magnitude of playing for West Ham United.
Paolo Di Canio is the obvious one that springs to mind, but even recently there has been the likes of Manuel Lanzini, Pablo Fornals, Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal who have all become fan favourites due to their love and commitment to the shirt.
And there’s Alessandro Diamanti who, despite spending just one season in east London before leaving the club in 2010, is a self confessed West Ham fan and has previously admitted his regret at leaving the club so soon.
The Italian even posted a photo of himself and his son wearing this season’s home shirt on Instagram with the caption “Once a Hammer, always a Hammer.”
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