2025–26 West Ham United F.C. season

The 2025–26 season is the 131st season in the history of West Ham United Football Club, and the club's fourteenth consecutive season in the Premier League. In addition to the domestic league, the club is also participating in the FA Cup and EFL Cup.

West Ham started their season on 16 August at the Stadium of Light playing newly promoted Sunderland. After a goalless first-half, Sunderland's Eliezer Mayenda opened the scoring on 61 minutes with a header past West Ham's debut goalkeeper, Mads Hermansen. Dan Ballard added a second on 73 minutes and Wilson Isidor made it 3–0, the final score in the second minute of added-time.^[2]

Chelsea were the visitors for West Ham's opening game at the London Stadium on 22 August. Although Lucas Paquetá opened the scoring on 6 minutes, Chelsea replied with goals from João Pedro on 15 minutes, Pedro Neto on 23 minutes, Enzo Fernández on 34 minutes, Moisés Caicedo on 54 minutes and Trevoh Chalobah on 58 minutes to make the final score 5–1.^[3] With eight goals conceded, this was this most conceded by the club in their first two games in any season in the top–flight of English football.^[4]

On 26 August, West Ham travelled to Molineux to play Wolverhampton Wanderers in the second round of the EFL Cup. In the first–half, Guido Rodriguez fouled Jean-Ricner Bellegarde to give away a penalty. Hwang Hee-chan hit the post with his penalty but Gomes followed–up the rebound to make it 1–0 in the 43 minute. In the 50th minute, Tomáš Souček equalised with a header and Lucas Paquetá scored another header in the 63rd minute to put the visitors ahead. Wanderer's manager, Vítor Pereira made several substitutes including Jørgen Strand Larsen who scored in the 82nd and 84th minute to put the hosts 3–2 up. This was the final score and West Ham were eliminated from the competition at their first attempt.^[5] Following the game, club captain Jarrod Bowen had to be held back by stewards after trying to confront a group of West Ham supporters after something seemed to be said from the stands.^[6]

West Ham travelled to the City Ground on 31 August to play Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. With the game still goalless, on 82 minutes West Ham brought on Crysencio Summerville for his first game since January 2025. In the 84th minute he assisted Jarrod Bowen for West Ham's first goal and was fouled in the penalty area resulting in Lucas Paquetá scoring the penalty-kick in the 88th minute to make it 2–0. Callum Wilson added a third, his first for the club, in the first minute of added–time. The game finished 3–0 to the visitors.^[7]

On 13 September, Tottenham Hotspur were the visitors to the London Stadium in the Premier League. After a goalless first-half, Pape Matar Sarr scored in the 47th minute for Tottenham. Tomáš Souček was sent-off in the 54th minute receiving a straight red card for a bad lunging foul on João Palhinha. Lucas Bergvall added a second in the 57th minute and Micky van de Ven a third in the 64th minute. The game finished 3–0 as West Ham dropped into bottom three of the league table.^[8]

West Ham were at home again on 20 September, in the Premier League, to Crystal Palace. Before the game thousands of supporters protested against the running of the club by David Sullivan and Karren Brady. Palace went ahead in the game in the 37th minute with a goal by Jean-Philippe Mateta. Jarrod Bowen equalised in the 49th minute only for Tyrick Mitchell to score in the 68th minute to make it 2–1 to Crystal Palace, the final score.^[9][10]

On 27 September, after a dismal start to the season, manager Graham Potter was sacked.^[11] On the same day, Nuno Espírito Santo was appointed as head coach on a three-year contract.^[12] Nuno's first game in charge was on 29 September in an away game in the Premier League to Everton. The home team took the lead in the 18th minute with a headed goal from Michael Keane. West Ham equalised in the 65th minute through Jarrod Bowen, the first goal scored by an away team at Everton's new, Hill Dickinson Stadium. The game finished 1–1.^[13]

On 4 October, West Ham were away at the Emirates Stadium to Arsenal in the Premier League. Declan Rice scored in the 38th minute and Bukayo Saka scored from the penalty spot after El Hadji Malick Diouf had fouled Jurrien Timber. The game finished 2–0.^[14]

The London Stadium hosted Brentford in the Premier League on 20 October. Some supporters staged a boycott of the game in a protest concerning the running of the club by David Sullivan and Karren Brady. There were thousands of empty seats at the stadium as the match began.^[15] Brentford opened the scoring in the 43rd minute through Igor Thiago. They added a second in the 4th minute of added-time in the second half through Mathias Jensen. The game ended 2–0 with West Ham losing their first four home games of the season for the first time in their history.^[15] They had one shot on target and were booed from the pitch in a performance described as "dire".^[16]

On 24 October, West Ham travelled to Elland Road to play Leeds United in the Premier League. They were behind after only three minutes when Brenden Aaronson scored for Leeds. The hosts added a second on 15 minutes through Joe Rodon. The score remained at 2–0 until the 90th minute when Mateus Fernandes scored with a header for West Ham. There were no further goals as West Ham made their worst start to a top-flight season since the 1973–74 season.^[17]

On 2 November, West Ham were at home to Newcastle United in the Premier League. Jacob Murphy put the visitors 1–0 up after only 4 minutes with a shot from outside the box. However, Lucas Paquetá equalised on 35 minutes, also from outside the box. In the fifth minute of added time in the first-half, Sven Botman turned Aaron Wan-Bissaka's cross into his own net to make it 2–1 to West Ham at half time. Tomáš Souček decided the game in the seventh minute of added time in the second-half tapping the ball into the net after Newcastle goalkeeper, Nick Pope had failed to hold Jarrod Bowen’s shot. West Ham moved onto seven points, rising one place to 18th.^[18]

Burnley were the visitors to the London Stadium on 8 November for a Premier League game. Zian Flemming put them 1–0 up on 35 minutes only for Callum Wilson to score on 44 minutes to make it 1–1, the score at half-time. Tomáš Souček scored on 77 minutes and Kyle Walker-Peters added a third goal, his first for the club, on 87 minutes. Josh Cullen scored for Burnley in the seventh minute of added time but the game finished immediately after the restart at 3–2.^[19]

On 22 November, West Ham travelled to the Vitality Stadium to play AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. Callum Wilson put the visitors 2–0 up at half-time with goals in the 11th and 35th minutes. However Bournemouth drew level after a penalty by Marcus Tavernier in the 69th minute following a handball by Max Kilman and an 81st minute goal by Enes Ünal. West Ham goalkeeper, Alphonse Areola made a number to saves in the second-half to prevent a Bournemouth winner and the game finished 2–2.^[20]

Expenditure: ~ £127,100,000

Income: ~ £74,720,000 (All fees converted into GBP)

On 17 June, West Ham announced a home pre-season friendly against Lille.^[76] A pre-season training camp in Switzerland and a fixture against Grasshopper was next to be confirmed.^[77]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

On 18 June, the Premier League fixtures were revealed, with West Ham away to Sunderland on the opening weekend.^[79]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

West Ham were drawn at home to Queens Park Rangers in the third round.^[88][89]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

West Ham were drawn away to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the second round.^[90][91]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

As of match played 20 December 2025

Players with no appearances are not included on the list

As of match played 20 December 2025

As of match played 20 December 2025

As of match played 20 December 2025

The list is sorted by shirt number when total clean sheets are equal.