Head Coach Graham Potter welcomed his squad and staff back to Rush Green training ground for the start of pre-season – and the start of his first full season in charge – on Monday.
There were smiles aplenty as West Ham United men’s team got down to work after a six-week summer break during which the captain and a promising young star got married, players represented their countries and new staff were appointed to Potter’s backroom staff.
With the sun breaking through after a morning rain shower, there was the feeling of a new era beginning in east London, a page being turned and positive energy focused only on the future as the squad wore their new BOYLE Sports Training Wear for the first time.
Alongside newlyweds Jarrod Bowen and Luis Guilherme were established first-team players, returning loanees and youngsters promoted to the senior squad, all eager to show Potter and his coaches their qualities ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
With six weeks of hard work to undertake and five pre-season matches to be played before the Premier League season kicks-off at Sunderland on Saturday 16 August, the Head Coach told whufc.com he is relishing the opportunity to assess and add to his squad, put solid foundations in place and prepare diligently for the exciting challenges that lie ahead.
“It’s been great to see everyone back at Rush Green after the break,” said Potter, who will work with first-team coaches Billy Reid, Bruno Saltor and Narcis Pelach and new goalkeeper coach Linus Kandolin. “The players and staff have come back refreshed, energised and ready to work hard, and there has been a really good mood around the place.
“The first day of pre-season training always brings a positive feeling of enthusiasm and new beginnings. A fresh start, a chance to work from a clean slate and set the right standard from day one.”
Potter welcomed 27 players to Rush Green on Monday, including Crysencio Summerville and returning loanees Nayef Aguerd, Maxwel Cornet, Freddie Potts, George Earthy, Callum Marshall and Krisztián Hegyi, while Academy of Football graduates Kaelan Casey, Lewis Orford and Ollie Scarles are now fully-fledged members of the senior squad.
The only absentee was Edson Álvarez, who headed Mexico to CONCACAF Gold Cup glory in the United States on Sunday, while Michail Antonio, who recently returned to action after a six-month injury absence, and whose future will be decided at such time that it is considered right and appropriate, is on a break after featuring for Jamaica at the same tournament.
While the summer transfer window is now open and ins and outs can be expected over the coming weeks, Potter and his staff are focused on working with every squad member to maximise their talent and potential.
“Aside from Edson Álvarez – who we congratulate after winning the Gold Cup with Mexico at the weekend – we’ve had the entire squad report back on Monday, which is a big positive and means that we can get some really good work in together from the word go,” he confirmed.
“We’ve also had a few players come back into the group after being out on loan last season, plus some new faces on the staff, so it’s been nice to welcome them and hear about their experiences, and generally just catch up with everyone as a group.
“We have a lot of hard work ahead of us in the coming weeks, but we’re really looking forward to the challenge, and really excited about the new season.”
