Should West Ham United defeat Manchester City on Saturday – a big ask, admittedly – then Taty Castellanos will have achieved something not seen since the summer of 2023.
The Argentina international joined the Hammers two months ago in a £27 million deal from Italian giants Lazio.
So far, Taty Castellanos has been on the winning side four times in nine Premier League appearances; the most recent being West Ham United’s 1-0 triumph away at Fulham last week.
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Add a further three points when Pep Guardiola’s flawed title chasers come to town, and Castellanos will become the first since Vladimir Coufal to win at least half of his maiden ten top-flight appearances for the Londoners.
Taty Castellanos plays a major role in West Ham United revival
Castellanos converted a sublime El Hadji Malick Diouf cross to open his Premier League account away to Burnley in February. He also helped Nuno Espirito Santo mastermind victories over Tottenham, Sunderland and the Cottagers.
Between Coufal in 2020 and Castellanos in early 2026, no fewer than 52 new signings have played Premier League games in a West Ham shirt.
None of those – including Crysencio Summerville, Mateus Fernandes, Jean-Clair Todibo and the aforementioned Diouf – managed to start their Hammers career with five or more wins from ten first division outings.
Mohammed Kudus, James Ward-Prowse and Emerson Palmieri all came close, but would fall short on four.
Castellanos, then, could make it 53rd time lucky this weekend.
Furthermore, of all the January additions made by top-flight clubs in 2026, Castellanos has the fourth-best points-per-game record.
Only Bournemouth winger Rayan, plus Man City duo Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi, can better the striker’s 1.55 average so far.
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Nuno Espirito Santo still wants more from Castellanos
To quote captain Jarrod Bowen, Castellanos has helped give West Ham a ‘platform’ to build upon in the final third.
While he’s found the net only twice so far in the league, his prodigious work-rate, relentless pressing and his mobility has provided the Hammers with a much-needed outlet; a stark contrast to the lumbering Niclas Fullkrug, or Lucas Paqueta moonlighting as a number nine.
Nuno will be without Crysencio Summerville against Man City, though, meaning Castellanos, Bowen and co will be required to pull their weight in his absence.
Nuno reflected upon Axel Disasi’s transformative impact in his pre-City press conference. The West Ham boss is demanding more from Castellanos, though, even if the statistics paint a very pretty picture.
“We are delighted not only with Taty, but the players that have joined have really brought energy to the team,” said Nuno. “Taty’s doing well and I hope he continues.
“I think he’s settled really quickly to the Premier League and we expect much more from him.”
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