1. Back-to-back wins
West Ham United completed the 2025 Premier League Summer Series in style with a 2-0 victory over AFC Bournemouth at the incredible Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
Goals either side of half-time scored by Niclas Füllkrug and Jarrod Bowen clinched a second win in the United States, following Wednesday’s success against Everton in Chicago.
While Manchester United secured the trophy courtesy of their 2-1 win over the Hammers in New Jersey, two wins from three and a trio of competitive performances mean Graham Potter’s squad will return home feeling optimistic and confident about their future prospects.
With three victories and eight goals scored in four pre-season matches, including two each for strikers Füllkrug and Bowen, the vibe is good in the West Ham camp.
2. Diouf’s dangerous crossing
When West Ham United signed El Hadji Malick Diouf from Slavia Prague three weeks ago, the experts at Analytics United wrote: “His delivery off his left foot is evocative of the best days of Aaron Cresswell as he is able to hit a moving ball travelling at speed like a free-kick. The power he is able to generate, alongside a healthy dose of devilish whip, enables him to avoid the first man with consistency whilst landing balls right in between the opposition centre-backs.”
Sunday’s game was the perfect showcase for Diouf’s crossing talents, as ball after ball into the Bournemouth box caused the Cherries’ back four untold problems and concerns.
Both goals came from the Senegal international’s deliveries as he twice picked out Jarrod Bowen at the far post. The first saw the skipper tee-up Niclas Füllkrug to score with ease, while the second was expertly steered home by the captain.
3. Claret and Blue Army in full voice
Yet again, as was the case at MetLife Stadium and Soldier Field, the Claret and Blue Army was in full voice at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
With the design of the incredible venue, whose roof was closed following a morning storm that drenched Atlanta, keeping the noise in, you could hear the choruses of Bubbles and West Ham are Massive over any chants being raised by AFC Bournemouth’s supporters.
Time after time during our two weeks in the United States, the West Ham fans have shown out at stadiums, community events, activations and fan parties, wearing their colours and signing their songs with pride.
4. Southern sounds
West Ham United were welcomed to Georgia in style by country singer-songwriter Caleb Lee Hutchinson, who serenaded the Hammers with a special version of the Club’s anthem I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles.
Hutchinson, who was runner-up in American Idol in 2018, entertained supporters, the squad and staff ahead of kick-off in West Ham’s final 2025 Premier League Summer Series fixture with AFC Bournemouth at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
For Georgia native Hutchinson, who was born and raised 30 miles west in the small town of Dallas, it was a privilege to welcome West Ham to his home State.
This was not the first time Hutchinson had sung for the Hammers, having done so at NBC’s Premier League Mornings Live event in the ‘Music City’ of Nashville, Tennessee, in April 2024.
Since then, he has become a loyal Hammer, visiting London Stadium and performing in both London and Atlanta, and he is proud of the relationship he now has with the Club – and that shone through in his incredible Southern version of Bubbles in Atlanta on Sunday.
