What are the chances that West Ham United begin next season with academy graduate Freddie Potts and the up-and-coming Mohamadou Kante as Nuno Espirito Santo’s first-choice central midfield partnership?
Hammers News are not going out on a limb when we say that Mateus Fernandes is unlikely to be at the London Stadium next term. The feeling is that Tomas Soucek may depart as well.
And though Soungoutou Magassa seems keen to stick around and make up for a poor first season in England, he appeared to lose Nuno’s trust from that 3-0 humiliation at Wolves onwards.
What are you most looking forward to about the 2026/27 Championship season? 👀
New signings? Millwall clashes? Youngsters getting a chance? No VAR? Or something else? ⚒️
Freddie Potts and Mohamadou Kante, though, look well-placed to benefit from what should be a summer of substantial change at West Ham United.
After Callum Wilson and Axel Disasi said their goodbyes, West Ham confirmed nine more departures on Wednesday. Adama Traore and Lukasz Fabianski the stand-out names.
Yet, those with a keen eye on the club’s next generation may have been surprised to see another name on the list of exits; Tyron Akpata.
Tyron Akpata’s West Ham United exit may come as a surprise
After relegation was confirmed, Hammers News included Tyron Akpata among a selection of youngsters we felt could make the step up in the Championship.
Instead, it has now been confirmed that the 19-year-old will leave having never played a single senior game.
Brought in from Dagenham and Redbridge when he was an Under-15, the tough-tackling dynamo has been a regular at youth level. Akpata impressed in the National League Cup final defeat to Boreham Wood in March.
Yet while the many of his teammates that night – Josh Ajala, Preston Fearon, Fin Herrick – are expected to have bright futures in East London, news of Akpata’s exit may come as a surprise. Especially considering the uncertainty surrounding many of Nuno’s senior midfield options.
Akpata made 22 appearances for the Under-21s last season. He frequently stood out for his intensity and his crunching challenges but also a sweet ball-striking ability.
Akpata has scored some outrageous long-range goals in his young career. One won West Ham’s Goal of the Month award in 2025, with another coming against Norwich earlier this year.
Akpata was judged to have ‘huge potential’ by Kenny Brown
Give us your reaction as West Ham confirm 9 departures! 👇
Goodbye Traore and Fabianski! 👋
“As well as his on-field attributes, I think the way he goes about his business is one of the things that stands out about him. He’s very well-liked by his peers and the staff, and he’s the sort of character you want around,” academy manager Kenny Brown said when Akpata signed a scholarship deal at West Ham.
“He’s a local boy with huge potential.”
Mark Robins even trusted Akpata to captain the Under-21s last year.
Of course, impressive performances in the reserves do not always translate into the first-team. West Ham won the FA Youth Cup in 2023. Three years later, only Ollie Scarles has come close to establishing himself amongst Jarrod Bowen and co.
Gideon Kodua, Michael Forbes and Patrick Kelly were regulars in League One last season.
Still, those who had watched Akpata’s development closely would have been forgiven for assuming that a contract extension would be coming his way.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
