West Ham odds to finish in 2024/25 Premier League top six: Predicted finish, signings, best players and full squad
West Ham United are in a new era in the 2024/25 Premier League with Julen Lopetegui at the helm.
The Spaniard has replaced David Moyes as Hammers manager and fans will be hoping they can once again challenge for European football. Just a few years ago, a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League secured West Ham a spot in the Europa Conference League, which they won. That earned them their place in the Europa League last season with a run to the quarter-finals.
In fact, 2024/25 will be the first season in four that the Hammers haven’t been in European football, also reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League in 2021/22. They’ll have a fight on their hands, but West Ham have been given a 9.1% chance of a top-six finish per implied probability.
Latest West Ham odds to finish in the 2024/25 Premier League top six
Betting Market | Odds | Probability |
West Ham to finish in the 2024/25 Premier League top six | 10/1 with Bet365 | 9.1% |
West Ham to finish in the 2024/25 Premier League top four | 33/1 with Bet365 | 2.9% |
West Ham to finish in the 2024/25 Premier League top half | 5/4 with Bet365 | 44.4% |
West Ham’s summer transfer window business
West Ham transfers in
West Ham transfers out
To offset their big spending, West Ham cashed in on some fringe players or those who hadn’t quite made the grade, including Flynn Downes, Said Benrahma and Thilo Kehrer, while Ben Johnson and Angelo Ogbonna left at the end of their contracts. Nayef Aguerd, James Ward-Prowse, Kurt Zouma and Maxwel Cornet sealed loan moves away, while Kalvin Phillips’ loan was not made permanent.
Who are West Ham’s most important players?
West Ham’s top Premier League Golden Boot contender: Jarrod Bowen
- Key stat: Jarrod Bowen averaged 2.5 shots per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season.
Like most of the West Ham squad, Jarrod Bowen had an underwhelming 2022/23 season, with six goals and five assists in 38 appearances. But he turned up, and then some, last season. The Englishman was directly involved in 22 goals in 34 Premier League games, thriving having played through the middle more often. Of course, no West Ham player was directly involved in more goals, and Bowen was top scorer for the Hammers on 16.
Of those 16 goals, 14 came from open play, with only three players managing more in the Premier League. They were Erling Haaland (18), Phil Foden and Ollie Watkins (both 16). He averaged 2.5 shots per 90 minutes in the Premier League and 1.1 on target, with a shooting accuracy of 44.05%. Bowen’s finishing was top quality too, with a +0.13 difference between his Expected Goals and Expected Goals on Target. So, by the positioning of Bowen’s shots, he increased his chances of scoring.
Despite West Ham’s struggles at the start of this season, Bowen has done well with two goals and two assists in seven matches so far.
West Ham’s primary playmaker: Jarrod Bowen
- Key stat: Jarrod Bowen
This section would have been reserved for James Ward-Prowse, who created 64 chances and provided seven assists in the Premier League last season. However, he has since departed on loan to Nottingham Forest. In his absence, Bowen has taken up the creative responsibilities alongside his goalscoring requirements.
As mentioned, Bowen has scored twice so far this season, but he’s also registered two assists while creating 19 chances; at least 10 more than any other West Ham player.
We’re forced to ask: What will Lopetegui do if Bowen gets injured?
West Ham’s card magnets & top tacklers: Edson Alvarez
- Key stat: Edson Alvarez averaged 3.02 tackles per 90 minutes in the 2023/24 Premier League.
Edson Alvarez had a decent first season in the Premier League after moving from Ajax to West Ham. He played 31 games in the Premier League, with 28 starts and three substitute appearances. Three of the seven games he missed came through suspension for yellow card accumulation. He had five yellow cards in his first nine Premier League appearances, and reached 10 yellows after 25 matches.
Alvarez ranked second for tackles in the Premier League for West Ham last season, with 80 — behind Emerson Palmieri’s 106. But they were a lot closer when you look at per 90 minutes, with Alvarez averaging 3.02 tackles per 90 to Emerson’s 3.04. And the real difference here is fouls. The Mexican committed 33 fouls in the Premier League last season at an average of 1.25 per 90 minutes. And, of course, let’s not forget the 11 yellow cards, more than any other West Ham players.
This season, Alvarez has averaged 3.3 fouls per 90 minutes, which is the most of any West Ham player with 125+ minutes on the board so far. He’s also picked up two yellow cards in 245 minutes.
West Ham’s rising star: Freddie Potts
West Ham have a more experienced squad with a smattering of younger players, but Freddie Potts is one looking to play his way into the squad.
The 20-year-old was part of West Ham’s pre-season preparations, having made three first-team appearances and spent 2023/24 on loan at Wycombe. There, he played 43 times across all competitions, being a key role at the base of their midfield.
“It’s a new experience and something different than what I’ve been used to,” Potts told West Ham’s official website.
“He [Lopetegui] has got a different style of play compared to coaches I’ve had before, so it’s a good experience to learn from. I think we have all enjoyed it, tried to adapt and to implement everything we’ve done out in Austria, and I think at times we did that. I’ve enjoyed every moment so far.
“I love just trying to get on the ball and that’s what I tried to do as much as possible, and hopefully we have a head coach who likes to let his midfielders get on the ball as much as possible and try and make things happen, as that sort of style suits all of us as midfielders.”
Potts has since been loaned to Championship side Portsmouth, but the Hammers will be keeping a close eye on him.
West Ham’s set-piece specialists:
- Penalties: Lucas Paqueta
- Free kicks: Jarrod Bowen
- Corners: Jarrod Bowen
West Ham’s tactical analysis, formation & player ratings
West Ham team stats from the 2023/24 Premier League season (avg per game):
- Corners: 4.42
- Shots on target: 4.05
- Shots on target conceded: 6.47
- Offsides: 1.87
West Ham 2024/25 player ratings*
- GK: Alphonse Areola – 53% – Only four goalkeepers have performed worse on the Squawka Score so far, with the Hammers conceding far too many goals this season.
- RB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 62% – As expected, Wan-Bissaka hasn’t offered too much in attack but has been solid defensively so far.
- CB: Jean-Clair Todibo – 71% – It probably would have been worse for West Ham at the start of this season were it not for Todibo, who is among the top PL defenders so far in a number of defensive metrics.
- CB: Max Kilman – 66% – Kilman has taken a little longer to settle than Todibo but is starting to look the part for the Hammers.
- LB: Emerson – 60% – Emerson has performed similarly to his counterpart on the opposite flank, although it’s Wan-Bissaka who actually edges it in terms of chance creation 7-5.
- DM: Guido Rodriguez – 49% – It’s been a below-average start at West Ham for Rodriguez, who is yet to adjust physically to the PL. Among the lowest performing midfielders for tackles won per 90 (1.01).
- AM: Lucas Paqueta – 55% – Paqueta has made two errors leading to a shot, one of which led to a goal, dragging his Score down. Saved slightly by scoring twice as he’s only created 0.17 big chances per 90.
- AM: Tomas Soucek – 64% – As steady and effective as ever, with two goals already under his belt, while averaging 6.68 touches in the opposition box. Has also won a penalty this season.
- RW: Jarrod Bowen – 69% – The best of an underperforming bunch, Bowen has carried the responsibility of goalscoring and chance creation for West Ham so far.
- CF: Michail Antonio – 47% – Has remained the most-used striker despite West Ham’s heavy spending. Has just one goal and one assist to his name but has created 0.63 big chances per 90.
- LW: Mohammed Kudus – 55% – Is yet to pick up his excellent form from last season with just one goal and zero assists on the board. Has averaged 3.58 successful take-ons per 90, though.
Lopetegui has lined up in something of a 4-1-4-1 system so far, with Michail Antonio providing the physical presence to unlock Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus. Tomas Soucek provides late runs into the box, while Lucas Paqueta is supposed to offer the guile and craft behind the forward line, though he’s not really hit form. They’re backed up by Guido Rodriguez, who screens a back four that is, in fairness, pretty strong defensively.
West Ham’s full Premier League 2024/25 squad
PLAYER NAME | POSITION | AGE |
Alphonse Areola | Goalkeeper | 31 |
Wes Foderingham | Goalkeeper | 33 |
Lukasz Fabianski | Goalkeeper | 39 |
Jean-Clair Todibo | Defender | 24 |
Max Kilman | Defender | 27 |
Kaelan Casey | Defender | 19 |
Konstantinos Mavropanos | Defender | 26 |
Aaron Wan-Bisska | Defender | 26 |
Emerson | Defender | 30 |
Aaron Cresswell | Defender | 34 |
Vladimír Coufal | Defender | 31 |
Edson Álvarez | Midfielder | 26 |
Tomas Soucek | Midfielder | 29 |
Guido Rodríguez | Midfielder | 30 |
Carlos Soler | Midfielder | 27 |
Andy Irving | Midfielder | 24 |
Lucas Paquetá | Midfielder | 26 |
Crysencio Summerville | Forward | 22 |
Mohammed Kudus | Forward | 24 |
Jarrod Bowen | Forward | 27 |
Luis Guilherme | Forward | 18 |
Niclas Füllkrug | Forward | 31 |
Danny Ings | Forward | 32 |
Michail Antonio | Forward | 34 |
West Ham FAQs
Where did West Ham finish in the 2023/24 Premier League season?
West Ham finished ninth in the Premier League last season, 11 points outside the European places.
Who is the West Ham manager?
Julen Lopetegui is West Ham’s manager, replacing David Moyes in the summer.
Who is the current West Ham captain?
Jarrod Bowen is the West Ham captain, with Aaron Cresswell acting as vice-captain.
What is West Ham’s best Premier League finish?
West Ham finished 5th in the 1998/99 season, 10 points behind fourth-placed Leeds. They’ve finished in the top half of the table in 14 of their 28 Premier League seasons.
How do Squawka player ratings work?*
Squawka’s new player rating system is completely stats-based. Player scores are based on the numbers they put up across a range of on-ball events, from goals scored to tackles won.
Using extensive research and our expertise, we’ve tailored each score to the player’s position. For example, forwards’ scores are based on metrics such as shots on target, touches in the opposition box and big chances created. Meanwhile, centre-backs are rewarded for winning aerial duels, making blocks, successful long-range passes and so on.
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