Football fans can rejoice once again with the new season of the English Premier League, the most exciting and arguably the best on the planet, looming ever closer. The preseason games are days away when the supporters will get to see their teams hit the pitches for the first time since last season. For West Ham United, it will be three weekends of non stop action as they test things out before the season proper starts in the middle of August. Read on for more on this as we look forward to the new season, as well as back to the most important signings and what happened last year. It should be a fun year ahead for the EPL as a whole, and for the Hammers.
West Ham 2025 Preseason Schedule
The best thing about English Premier League football is that it is the first of the Big 5 leagues to start. The end of August is stuck in the minds of football fans as the best time of the summer because their teams start the new campaign. For West Ham, the season officially kicks off on Saturday, August 16, away at Sunderland. The team finished 4th in the Championship last season and managed to get promoted. The Hammers are the favorites not only because of that, but it will still be a tough way to open the new year with a team they have not played against in a while. The last time was in the 2016/2017 season. West Ham won at home 1-0, and it was a 2-2 draw away. It would be a surprise if they do not justify the role of the favorites in the opener.
But before that, the team has three exciting preseason games to play. They already played one, a 2-1 loss to Man United, the first of the Summer Series in the USA. These games are, of course, used to test out strategies, see the state of the players’ chemistry, and get back into proper playing form. On Thursday, July 31, they play against Everton in a classic PL matchup in the second Summer Series game. In this one, West Ham is the underdog with 2.60 odds on Sportsbet, with the visiting Everton at 2.38. Then, on Sunday, August 3, it is the final one in the USA against Bournemouth. To finish things off, it is a friendly international game at home on Saturday, August 9, when the French Ligue 1 side LOSC Lille comes to the capital. The most important thing is to prevent injuries and get the players some much needed action to get them ready for the season opener.
West Ham 2025 Offseason Transfers and Signings
On July 1st, Kamarai Swyer joined Northampton Town upon the expiration of his contract. Jean Clair Rodibo completed a permanent transfer from the Ligue 1 side OFC Nice on the same day, July 1, and left his home of French top tier football in favor of the English. Mohammed Kudus moved to Tottenham Hotspur after two years, 80 appearances, and 19 goals for the Hammers, in a 55 million deal.
The team signed Senegal international El Hadji Malick Diouf from Slavia Prague, a 20 year old left full back, who can also fill the wing back spot. The busy July period also saw a free transfer signing of the English defender Kyle Walker Peters, a versatile full back veteran. The 28 year old played for the Spurs from 2015 to 2020, and for Southampton from 2020 to 2025. West Ham has sent Michael Forbes on loan to Northampton Town. Sean Moore joined Shelbourne, while Patrick Kelly joined Barnsley.
As for the rumors, it is said that the Hammers are ready to sell Lucas Paqueta this summer. His former club, Flamengo, is one of the interested suitors for the Brazilian. Infamously, the player has been under investigation since August 2023, and then charged for the breach of betting rules in May 2024. The 27 year old has been to hearings in March of 2025 and faces two further charges of obstructing an FA investigation. However, it is now being reported that he will be cleared of spot fixing charges with the final verdict imminent.
Callum Wilson has agreed to personal terms with West Ham after he left Newcastle. Wilson is a very experienced, 33 year old striker who has spent his entire career in England. He played from 2009 to 2014 for Coventry, then from 2014 to 2020 for Bournemouth, following a five year stint from 2020 to 2025 with Newcastle United. He scored 22 goals in 49 matches for Coventry, 61 in 171 matches for Bournemouth, and 47 in 113 for Newcastle. He will be a great signing for the Hammers and a strong presence at the forward spot. Wilson has played 9 games for England, scored 2 goals, and has the bronze from the 2019 Nations League.
For a few weeks now, West Ham has been showing a lot of interest in the Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and are pushing to sign him. Both sides are interested, and it would be a great move as the 25 year old Danish showed promise and wants to remain in the EPL. As a reminder, Leicester was relegated. The young goalie has appeared in 71 games for the Foxes since 2023 and has gone through the U16-U21 international teams. He is yet to make a senior team debut for Denmark.
The 2024/2025 Season Retrospective
After finishing in the 9th place in the 2023/2024 season, there were a lot of expectations for the previous, 2024/2025 campaign. Making it to the top 10 behind all of the greats in the league was a great effort, and 52 points from 14 wins, 10 draws, and 14 losses was a favorable finish. However, the squad could not repeat this success last season, as it was a very competitive and rough one. They finished 14th with 43 points. The Hammers won 11 games, drew 10, and lost 17, with a negative goal difference of-16 (46 goals for, 62 goals against).
With bottom half finish, there is a lot of hope for the upcoming season, and the fans expect a lot more from their squad. Hopefully, it will be a more favorable situation. There will be 8 Premier League teams playing in UEFA competitions next season, which could stretch some of them too thin and allow West Ham to grab some valuable points during the busiest stretches of the year. By most predictions, it will be a better season than last time around, more akin to the 2023/2024 one. In the meantime, if you are a fan of sports and need something new to bet on, the latest horse racing odds are out, so give it a shot to expand your wagering game.
West Ham Interesting Facts and Trivia
- Origins and Founding
West Ham United was originally founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC. It was the works team for the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, before reforming as West Ham United in 1900. - Nickname Confusion
The club’s nickname, “The Hammers,” actually originates from its roots in the ironworking industry. Many fans mistakenly associate it with the team’s name rather than its industrial roots. - Premier League Founders
West Ham were one of the founding members of the Premier League in 1992. They have helped shape the modern era of English football and are very recognizable globally. - Historic Stadium Legacy
West Ham played at the Boleyn Ground (often called Upton Park) from 1904 until 2016 before moving to the London Stadium in Stratford. - Famous Academy
Their youth system is known as “The Academy of Football.” It has produced stars like Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, and Michael Carrick, all of whom blossomed and peaked elsewhere. - World Cup Contribution
Three West Ham players, Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, and Martin Peters, were pivotal in England’s 1966 World Cup win. All three players participated in the final and made significant contributions. - Iconic Captain
Bobby Moore, widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time, captained both West Ham and the England national team to historic success. - Unique Badge Elements
The club’s crest features two crossed rivet hammers, a tribute to its shipbuilding and ironworking heritage. It once included the Boleyn Castle tower, too. - Claret and Blue Identity
West Ham’s distinctive claret and blue colors were inspired by Aston Villa, who reportedly gifted the team a set of kits in the early 1900s. Many fans still confuse the two teams to this day when they glance over a match. - Global Support
Despite often being viewed as a traditional East London club, West Ham boasts a large global fanbase. Australia, Scandinavia, and the United States are especially fond of the team.
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