Football General Manager
- Antonio won’t play for West Ham again
- Previous deal expired in June
- Involved in car crash last year
West Ham have decided not to offer veteran striker Antonio a new contract, according to The Athletic. The 35-year-old was involved in a car crash in December last year and had to undergo surgery on a lower limb fracture. He didn’t play again in the 2024-25 season and the Hammers revealed in June they would delay their decision on offering a new deal due to the “unique” circumstances of his situation.
Speaking during a press conference, manager Graham Potter simply replied “no” when asked if Antonio would be part of his squad for the upcoming season. The Irons also announced on Saturday the signing of former Newcastle striker Wilson on a free transfer after his departure from St James’ Park, further displaying the direction they intend to head in for the 2025-26 season.
It’s a somewhat awkward situation for Antonio and Wilson, who are now faced with one player replacing the other in the West Ham squad having spent years bantering each other on the Footballer’s Football Podcast. However, Potter has suggested that Antonio could remain at West Ham in a coaching capacity, adding: “We’re in the process of speaking about what he wants to do in the future, so I wouldn’t want to say too much. If anything, it will be a role, maybe looking at with the 21s, coaching, mentoring, that type of thing. But again, that will be up to him.”
Antonio has returned to the football pitch in recent months, playing for Jamaica during the CONCACAF Gold Cup in June. He is now a free agent and will be targeting his next move after ten years in east London, but he will keep using West Ham’s training facilities as he continues his full recovery.
