Graham Potter appointed new West Ham United boss

West Ham United FC have appointed former Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion boss Graham Potter as the new head coach of their men’s first team, having dismissed Julen Lopetegui after just six months in charge. 

Potter has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal as the new Hammers boss. This is his first managerial position since being dismissed by Chelsea in 2023 after only seven months in charge at Stamford Bridge.

Potter takes over the job with the Hammers 14th in the Premier League—just seven points above the relegation zone with only six league wins to their name.

West Ham released a short statement on their social media channels, confirming the news: 

“West Ham United is delighted to welcome Graham Potter as the Club’s new Head Coach.”

Speaking on the appointment, Graham Potter said: 

“I am delighted to be here. It was important to me that I waited until a job came along that I felt was right for me, and equally that I was the right fit for the club I am joining. That is the feeling I have with West Ham United. My conversations with the chairman and the board have been very positive and constructive. We share the same values of hard work and high energy to create the solid foundations that can produce success. And we are on the same wavelength in terms of what is needed in the short term and then how we want to move the club forward in the medium to long term. 

“West Ham United is a huge Club, at the heart of London, with a tremendous fanbase and great support all around the world. I saw the scenes that followed their Europa Conference League victory in 2023 and it was clear that this is a Club with everything in place to become consistently successful, both on and off the pitch.

“The Club have made a lot of good progress in recent years and ensured there are some very strong foundations in place to build on. You don’t win a European trophy by fluke – there has to be a good bedrock at a football club for that to happen, and the challenge now is to take that on and build the next steps, to develop a team and a Club that the supporters can be proud of.”