Credit: Imago

Harri Burton

Thu 7 August 2025 18:02, UK

West Ham supporters have been left shocked by the club’s decision not to offer Michail Antonio a new contract ahead of next season.

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The 35-year-old striker miraculously recovered from an awful car accident, which left him with a shattered femur, a metal rod in his hip, and the possibility of never being able to walk again.

However, after just six months of intense recovery, the Irons’ favourite forward featured in Jamaica’s 1-0 defeat to Guatemala, with Antonio leaving West Ham fans stunned by his rate of recovery.

He made 323 appearances for the Hammers ever since his £7million from Nottingham Forest in 2015 [Sky Sports], where he became a legend, and had some suggesting that West Ham could offer him a special contract.

Instead, West Ham announced the decision to allow Antonio to depart on a free transfer this summer, bringing an end to his decade-long spell in East London.

Taking to X on Thursday (7 August), Tony Cottee wrote: “I’d just like to say thank you from the fans, and congratulations to Michail Antonio for a fantastic career at the Hammers.

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“From right-back to the top Premier League scorer [for West Ham] is a remarkable achievement.

Good luck with your next adventure, Micky… TC,” with the legend excited to see where the striker goes next.

Antonio notched 68 Premier League goals for the Irons, the most of anyone in the club’s history, though Cottee does know a thing or two about scoring, having notched 146 in East London.

Football Insider verdict

Fans have been very disappointed by how the club have chosen to announce the news, not least because it leaves Niclas Fullkrug and Callum Wilson as the only two striker options this summer.

Daniel Cummings has joined from Celtic, but having undergone surgery earlier this summer, he will not be available for the opening few games of the 2025/26 campaign, and it is looking like the same for Crysensio Summerville.

Mick Brown told Football Insider that West Ham want to sign Southampton’s Mateus Fernandes after standout performances in a very disappointing campaign for the Saints.

Credit: Imago

Football Insider understands that West Ham have also abandoned a move for John Victor, instead turning to Leicester City’s Mads Hermansen, so it is clear that Potter wants to make a multitude of changes still.

There is still a lot of deadweight within the squad, such as Guido Rodriguez, Luis Guilherme, and Konstantinos Mavropanos, but Antonio was still seen as a valued member of the squad.

He absolutely deserves a better send-off at the London Stadium, in front of a packed-out stadium, rather than a simple message from the club thanking him for his decade of service.

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