West Ham confirm retained list with FIVE first-team stars leaving and Michail Antonio contract update
WEST HAM have announced that five first-team stars are leaving and provided an update on Michail Antonio.
The Hammers confirmed last month that Lukasz Fabianski, Aaron Cresswell, Vladimir Coufal and Danny Ings would all depart when their contract expire on June 30.
West Ham have now added Kurt Zouma to the list and he will become a free agent.
Antonio, who broke his leg in a car crash in December, faces an uncertain future.
The club said in a statement: “There will be no formal decision and announcement on his future until such time that it is considered right and appropriate.
“However, as his current contract is also due to expire on 30 June, for the purposes of the Premier League Retained List procedure at the end of the 2024/25 season, Michail will be listed as a free transfer.”
Reports suggest that West Ham and Antonio have held talks over an extension but they are no closer to an agreement.
The 35-year-old striker posted a montage video on social media yesterday that showed him in rehab and learning to walk again.
Antonio remains in recovery after crashing his £260,000 Ferrari and being airlifted to hospital.
The club legend has played 323 times for them, scoring 83 goals.
He was part of the squad that ended West Ham’s 43-year trophy drought by winning the Conference League in 2023 alongside Fabianski, Cresswell, Coufal, Ings and Zouma.
Goalkeeper Fabianski, 40, has been at the club for eight years and made 216 appearances for them.
Cresswell, 35, had been with the Hammers for 11 seasons.
Rumours have emerged that suggest he is on Leeds and Wrexham’s radar.
Coufal, 32, is shown the exit door after featuring in 180 matches.
All three broke down in tears during emotional farewell videos.
Ings, 32, had a tough time in front of goal in East London, finding the back of the net just five times in 69 appearances.
Zouma, 30, captained West Ham for one season but spent last term out on loan at Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Orobah following knee issues.