She may have only been on the pitch for 33 minutes, but Inès Belloumou was full of emotion after playing her first match in a West Ham United shirt on Sunday.
Starting the Hammers’ 1-0 pre-season friendly victory over Sparta Prague at Great Strahov Stadium at the weekend, the 24-year-old displayed her willingness to win - getting up and down the left-flank in the scorching heat, whilst also covering on the right when needed.
Belloumou was on the pitch when Riko Ueki nodded the Irons ahead midway through the first period, and she joined in the celebrations before being replaced by Verena Hanshaw eleven minutes later.
When the team came together for a final pre-match huddle ahead of kick-off, Skinner said: “I know you’ve already welcomed her, but this is a massive thing for you (Belloumou) today, and I hope you enjoy putting that shirt on - the first of many.”
The rest of the squad applauded in unison, cheering the No7, as Skinner gave Belloumou a final handshake before the two teams went out onto the pitch.
With the sun shining down on her outside of the team hotel in Prague on Monday morning, Belloumou reflected on the friendly with Sparta and the trip to the Czech capital with fond memories.
“It’s been a long, long time that I’ve been waiting for that moment, so I have so many emotions,” said Belloumou. “I think we could have scored more, but it was our first game.
"I only arrived last week, so I’m still getting to know everyone, but it (the time in Prague) was so nice! For me, we had good weather - it was a bit too hot for some girls - but it was nice to have the game and for me to play my first minutes for West Ham. I’m really proud.
“It’s been easy for me to come into the group. I’ve changed teams and countries before. It’s my first time here in England with a new team, but I feel like everything (settling in) has been natural. Even Vivi [Asseyi] helped me a lot!
“I can’t wait to get back to London. I want to start again, learn with the girls and play my first games for West Ham!”
Belloumou returned to Chadwell Heath later than the majority of the squad due to her involvement at this summer’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria - her first appearance at a major international tournament.
Helping her country reach the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time, Belloumou played in three of Algeria’s four matches, helping her side to not concede a goal at the tournament as they were knocked out on penalties by Ghana.
“It was a great experience, it was very different!” she said. “It’s not like [playing in] Sweden, Italy, Germany or England at all. It was tough to play there because it’s not the same as we play here, but it was a really good experience.
“It meant a lot to me and my family. It was crazy to sing the anthem in my first Africa Cup of Nations, and we got to the quarter-finals as well.”
Having signed for the Irons last summer, Belloumou spent 2024/25 on loan at Lazio and Malmö FF - making 14 appearances for the latter in a successful time in Sweden, which culminated in her netting a stunning free-kick in her final game for the club against IF Brommapojkarna.
“I learnt a lot in Italy, and then I arrived in Sweden, where there were great people. Malmö was a really nice city,” said Belloumou.
“The club, the coaches, the staff - everyone and everything was perfect for me to learn from before coming to England, and I arrived here with full confidence.”
