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Relegated West Ham Captain, Bowen Shun Summer Move

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West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen will stay at the club as they prepare for life in the Championship.

The 29-year-old England international was part of the side which suffered relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the season, leaving his future in doubt.

Bowen, who joined the Hammers from Hull City in 2020, has played 280 times for the club, scoring 85 goals, and has captained the side since 2024 after the departure of Kurt Zouma.

He has 22 England caps but missed out on a place in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad this summer.

The news provides a welcome boost for the Hammers, who have begun their pre-season preparation ahead of their first season in the Championship since 2011-12.

Bowen, a key player in the Hammers’ front line, started every Premier League match last season, scoring nine goals.

He famously scored the winning goal in the final minute against Fiorentina in the 2023 Uefa Conference League final in Prague as West Ham won their first major trophy in 43 years.

Bowen had been linked with a summer move away from the London Stadium back to the Premier League. He has now committed his future to the club for the 2026-27 season but has not signed a new contract extension, with his current deal running until 2030.

‘Live my life as captain of West Ham’
Speaking to the Hammers website, external, Bowen said: “My main motivation is staying and bringing this club back to the Premier League where we belong.

“It was only right for me to speak at the right time. Ultimately it [relegation] hurt everyone and it should hurt everyone.

“I flew out to Prague to meet (club directors) Daniel [Kretinsky] and Jiri [Svarc] and the ambition that I got from them, certainly in terms of the direction the club wants to move in, it interests me a lot. It didn’t take a lot, because this club means a lot to me.

“For me, when you’re here for a longer amount of time, you gain more affection, you grow into the club more, you grow into your role more and more, and I think that’s what I’ve done.

“I’ve been here six and a half years and transitioned from a boy to a man and I’ve never tried to hide away from anything.

“There are things you can do better, but certainly in my character on the pitch and off the pitch, I never try and hide away from anything and shift the blame.

“I always try and stand up for them and just kind of live my life as captain of West Ham and also as a fan as well.

“I see myself in years to come as a West Ham fan. So, I always think ‘what would they want as a fan if they got the opportunity to play on the pitch?’. For me, I think I’m like that character as well, so I think that’s the way.”

Bowen will now continue his pre-season preparations with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, who confirmed that he will remain at the club for the new season back in May.

After a home clash against Portsmouth in the first round of the Carabao Cup a week prior, West Ham kick off their Championship season away at fellow relegated club Burnley on Sunday, 16 August

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Klopp: Tresoldi Hasn’t Decided Between Germany Or Italy

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Brügge forward Tresoldi was not included in the latest Germany national team squad, and new Germany coach Klopp personally explained the reason.

 

Although Tresoldi was not selected this time, it does not mean he is excluded from the Germany national team.

Klopp said about the 22-year-old player. Tresoldi is also eligible to play for Italy but has not yet decided which national team to represent.

“For a young person, it’s really difficult. It’s not about which national anthem he wants to sing when he wakes up in the morning; it involves many things,” Klopp said.

“We don’t want to put any pressure on this player. We want to show him prospects. If there’s a chance to give him a little more time, that’s absolutely reasonable. This is the case with Nicolo (Tresoldi).”

Tresoldi has represented Germany since U19 but has not yet been called up to the senior national team.

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Lampard Disappointed Awoniyi Will Miss Coventry’s Trip To Nottingham Forest

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Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Thursday morning, Coventry City manager Frank Lampard addressed Taiwo Awoniyi’s unavailability for the Sky Blues’ Premier League meeting with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

 

The Premier League has confirmed that the Nigeria international is suspended for gameweeks 5 and 6, ruling him out of Coventry City’s upcoming fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United.

Awoniyi also missed Coventry’s Carabao Cup clash with Aston Villa on Wednesday after being sent off in last weekend’s defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.

The 29-year-old has been a regular in Coventry’s attack since joining the club, starting four of the five matches in which he has been available for selection.

Having spent four years at Nottingham Forest, Awoniyi would have been familiar with the club and the City Ground, making his absence particularly disappointing for both the player and Coventry.

Lampard acknowledged that the suspension is unfortunate, especially given Awoniyi’s strong connection with his former club.

He told reporters: “It’s not ideal for us. It’s not ideal for him, disappointing on that front.
“Taiwo has come in and played for us while he was still searching for real match fitness because of the protracted transfer. He came in quite late and hasn’t played pre-season games.

“He was getting better and will get better. Now he has to train and get fit.

“It’s a shame that he’s not going back to Forest, where he is obviously held in high regard personally, and also he’s an important player for us.”

Awoniyi has one goal and an assist for Coventry City following his summer move from Nottingham Forest.

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Beckham: Messi Should Win Ballon d’Or, Not Harry Kane

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Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham believes Lionel Messi deserves to win his ninth Ballon d’Or this year after a “special” World Cup.

 

Harry Kane is the bookies’ favourite to win the award next month after scoring 73 goals in 61 games for Bayern Munich and England last season.

But rather than back his countryman, Beckham has pointed to Messi’s performances for Argentina this summer as the decisive factor.

The 39-year-old scored eight goals during the tournament, while he also led Inter Miami to their first MLS Cup title last year, and their first Campeones Cup on Wednesday.

“I think when you see him do things like this tonight, when you see him have the World Cup that he’s had, it’s not luck that he’s being considered for the Ballon d’Or again,” Beckham, who earned 115 caps for England, said on Apple TV. “It’s not luck because he was probably the best player in the tournament. He had an incredible year last year.

“He came into that tournament in the World Cup, and like you’ve just said, 39 years old, to affect a World Cup and every game the way he did. That’s special. There’s no one at 39 that’s doing that and doing it at that level. So he deserves to be considered for the Ballon d’Or. He, in my opinion, he should win it.

“You’ve got great players there like Harry Kane, like Kylian [Mbappé], like Jude Bellingham and other players there, but you know when you’re talking about Leo, I’m his biggest supporter.”

Messi, who joined Miami in 2023, scored his 100th goal for the club in a 2-0 win over Mexican outfit Cruz Azul on Wednesday.

Argentina were beaten in July’s World Cup final by Spain, with midfielder Rodri named player of the tournament after the game.

Mbappé, Lamine Yamal and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are also seen as strong contenders for a wide open Ballon d’Or, with the ceremony taking place on Oct. 26 in London.

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