While West Ham have not had the best of years and find themselves in the Premier League relegation zone, there were a few standout performers.
Julen Lopetegui was in charge at the start of 2025, but was replaced by Graham Potter in the second week of January, who was then sacked to make way for Nuno Espirito Santo.
Now, the Portuguese is tasked with getting West Ham away from Premier League relegation danger in the coming months.
This is shocking! 😰 Relegation is going to be dire for West Ham…
What would YOU do to avoid this mess?
Ahead of the new year, Hammers News takes a look at five players who made 2025 worth watching for the fans:
5 – Alphonse Areola
When Mads Hermansen joined in the summer, it looked like Alphonse Areola’s time at the club was coming to an end.
However, he worked hard in training and proved to Nuno that he has what it takes to be the number one for the Hammers.
The Frenchman’s shot-stopping has certainly improved and he is marshalling the backline far better than Hermansen.
Here is the potential winner for Save of the Month. What’s your favourite Areola moment since he joined West Ham?
4 – El Hadji Malick Diouf
El Hadji Malick Diouf arrived in the summer to very little fanfare and, after a few tough moments initially, appears to have grown into his role at the London Stadium.
Playing as a left-back/left-wing-back was always going to be hard given the team’s style of play, but he has done a decent job, at least when it comes to attacking contributions.
While he still has to work on the defensive side of his game, Nuno will be happy that the board sanctioned a move for him in the summer.
3 – Mateus Fernandes
Mateus Fernandes joined West Ham for a deal in excess of £40million from Southampton in the summer, so the expectation was for him to hit the ground running.
Despite managerial and system changes, the Portuguese midfielder has made himself a mainstay in the Hammers’ side.
He has not only proven his quality with his technical ability and work rate, but has also contributed to two goals and an assist this season.
2 – Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been lauded for his defensive abilities, especially when it comes to one-on-one situations, and he certainly has delivered on that front for the Hammers.
While the DR Congo international may not be the best at going forward, he more than makes up for it with his defensive contributions.
His availability is also another important factor and given how West Ham have regressed over the last year, he makes our top two.
1 – Jarrod Bowen
Jarrod Bowen remains the undisputed talisman at the Hammers, leading the squad by example and also as the captain.
He was the go-to man in attack last season and this term, despite his numbers taking a hit, he is the first name on the team sheet for Nuno.
Signing a new striker in January will free up Bowen and fans will certainly see more from him in the second half of the season.
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