Michail Antonio could land new role as West Ham deal ends months after career-threatening car accident

West Ham United have announced that Michail Antonio will leave the club just months after a career-threatening car accident. The striker broke his leg in four places when he crashed his Ferrari in December. Antonio’s time at West Ham is overGetty He hasn’t played for the Hammers since but did return to professional football in June for Jamaica during the Gold Cup. But he will need to find a new club because the forward’s contract at the London Stadium expired at the end of June, and he hasn’t been offered new terms. Instead, the Irons have signed Callum Wilson, and Antonio will now need to find a new club. In a club statement, the Hammers said: “West Ham United can confirm that, following the expiry of his contract at the end of last season, Michail Antonio will not be signing a new deal as a first-team player with the club. “The 35-year-old striker, who joined the Hammers in September 2015 from Nottingham Forest, made 323 appearances over a ten-year period, scoring 83 goals, and becoming the club’s leading Premier League goalscorer in the process. He also played a key role in ending West Ham United’s 43-year wait for a major trophy, with victory in the 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League final in Prague. “He was named Hammer of the Year runner-up at the end of his debut season with the club – when he scored in the Farewell Boleyn victory against Manchester United in May 2016 – and then went one better a year later, becoming Hammer of the Year in our first season at London Stadium. “The remarkable courage and determination he showed to overcome injuries sustained in a December 2024 road traffic accident saw him return to competitive action on the international stage in June, appearing as a substitute for Jamaica in a CONCACAF Gold Cup tie against Guatemala. More recently, he gained further playing time on the pitch in a Hammers shirt when he played 45 minutes and scored twice for our Under-21 development team in a friendly against Boreham Wood. Antonio was a hugely popular figure in east LondonGetty “Michail will always be a much-loved and respected member of the West Ham United family. As has been the case since December, the club will continue to support and assist him in his ongoing rehabilitation, offering him access to training, facilities and medical care if needed. “Dialogue continues over his future involvement with the club in an alternative capacity – including one that would enable others to benefit from his experience and leadership qualities – and he will forever hold a special place in our 130-year history. “Everyone at West Ham United would like to sincerely thank Michail for his outstanding, dedicated service in a Claret and Blue shirt over the last ten years. Further recognition of his magnificent contribution will appear across club channels in the coming days and weeks.” It would be fair to say Antonio is a West Ham legend The 35-year-old is West Ham’s top Premier League goalscorer with 68 goals. The forward joined the club in the summer of 2015 from Nottingham Forest in a £7million deal. He initially joined as a right-sided player, playing at right-back and on the wing. In his time with the club, Antonio has played in basically every position, bar centre-back and central midfield. However, it was a switch to playing up front that changed everything for Antonio. The Jamaican international immediately adapted to the role and played a huge role in the Hammers’ European campaigns under David Moyes. During the 2021/22 Europa League campaign, he scored twice and assisted two further goals as the Irons reached the semi-finals before losing to eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt. Then during the 2022/23 campaign, Antonio scored six times as West Ham won the Europa Conference League. That night in which West Ham beat Fiorentina ensured that group of West Ham players would be remembered forever, and Antonio played a huge role in them making it to the final. Antonio achieved a lifelong dream when he helped West Ham win the Europa Conference League What is next for Antonio? In terms of what comes next for Antonio, it isn’t clear, but Graham Potter has hinted he could become an Under-21s coach at the club. Speaking ahead of the Irons facing Lille, he said: “Yes, he can still play of course. No, he’s not going to play for West Ham, that’s basically the point. “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.” But no matter what happens, the club plan to have Antonio back at the London Stadium to say a proper goodbye. See how to get up to £60 in free bets from the Birmingham vs Ipswich match here

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Michail Antonio could land new role as West Ham deal ends months after career-threatening car accident

West Ham United have announced that Michail Antonio will leave the club just months after a career-threatening car accident.

The striker broke his leg in four places when he crashed his Ferrari in December.

He hasn’t played for the Hammers since but did return to professional football in June for Jamaica during the Gold Cup.

But he will need to find a new club because the forward’s contract at the London Stadium expired at the end of June, and he hasn’t been offered new terms.

Instead, the Irons have signed Callum Wilson, and Antonio will now need to find a new club.

In a club statement, the Hammers said: “West Ham United can confirm that, following the expiry of his contract at the end of last season, Michail Antonio will not be signing a new deal as a first-team player with the club.

“The 35-year-old striker, who joined the Hammers in September 2015 from Nottingham Forest, made 323 appearances over a ten-year period, scoring 83 goals, and becoming the club’s leading Premier League goalscorer in the process. He also played a key role in ending West Ham United’s 43-year wait for a major trophy, with victory in the 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League final in Prague.

“He was named Hammer of the Year runner-up at the end of his debut season with the club – when he scored in the Farewell Boleyn victory against Manchester United in May 2016 – and then went one better a year later, becoming Hammer of the Year in our first season at London Stadium.

“The remarkable courage and determination he showed to overcome injuries sustained in a December 2024 road traffic accident saw him return to competitive action on the international stage in June, appearing as a substitute for Jamaica in a CONCACAF Gold Cup tie against Guatemala. More recently, he gained further playing time on the pitch in a Hammers shirt when he played 45 minutes and scored twice for our Under-21 development team in a friendly against Boreham Wood.

Antonio was a hugely popular figure in east London

“Michail will always be a much-loved and respected member of the West Ham United family. As has been the case since December, the club will continue to support and assist him in his ongoing rehabilitation, offering him access to training, facilities and medical care if needed.

“Dialogue continues over his future involvement with the club in an alternative capacity – including one that would enable others to benefit from his experience and leadership qualities – and he will forever hold a special place in our 130-year history.

“Everyone at West Ham United would like to sincerely thank Michail for his outstanding, dedicated service in a Claret and Blue shirt over the last ten years. Further recognition of his magnificent contribution will appear across club channels in the coming days and weeks.”

It would be fair to say Antonio is a West Ham legend

The 35-year-old is West Ham’s top Premier League goalscorer with 68 goals.

The forward joined the club in the summer of 2015 from Nottingham Forest in a £7million deal.

He initially joined as a right-sided player, playing at right-back and on the wing.

In his time with the club, Antonio has played in basically every position, bar centre-back and central midfield.

However, it was a switch to playing up front that changed everything for Antonio.

The Jamaican international immediately adapted to the role and played a huge role in the Hammers’ European campaigns under David Moyes.

During the 2021/22 Europa League campaign, he scored twice and assisted two further goals as the Irons reached the semi-finals before losing to eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt.

Then during the 2022/23 campaign, Antonio scored six times as West Ham won the Europa Conference League.

That night in which West Ham beat Fiorentina ensured that group of West Ham players would be remembered forever, and Antonio played a huge role in them making it to the final.

Antonio achieved a lifelong dream when he helped West Ham win the Europa Conference League

What is next for Antonio?

In terms of what comes next for Antonio, it isn’t clear, but Graham Potter has hinted he could become an Under-21s coach at the club.

Speaking ahead of the Irons facing Lille, he said: “Yes, he can still play of course. No, he’s not going to play for West Ham, that’s basically the point.

“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.”

But no matter what happens, the club plan to have Antonio back at the London Stadium to say a proper goodbye.

See how to get up to £60 in free bets from the Birmingham vs Ipswich match here