Only a few short hours after Freddie Potts put himself in contention for a first-team role at West Ham United, a former Hammers prospect proved that life away from the London Stadium can have its benefits too.
Whether Freddie Potts follows in the footsteps of Declan Rice, or perhaps falls ever-so-slightly short of the standards required by West Ham United, only time will tell.
Potts stood out against Everton in Chicago as Graham Potter’s side came from behind thanks to goals from Lucas Paqueta and Niclas Fullkrug. After a loan spell at Portsmouth which helped transform the Barking-born youngster into a man ‘ready’ to make the step up, Potts could not help but promise West Ham fans that there is a lot more to come.
Not so long ago, Josh Cullen was in the position Potts now finds himself embodying at the London Stadium.
A tenacious yet technically-gifted young midfielder hoping to make the transition from eye-catching EFL loan spells to the peaks of the Premier League.
Cullen might have missed the boat – he was not helped, of course, by Rice’s emergence as one of Europe’s most complete midfielders – but his highly-successful spell at Burnley should make the Irishman an inspiration for all those youngsters deemed not quite at the required level by the Hammers.
Former West Ham United starlet Josh Cullen named Burnley captain
West Ham sold Josh Cullen to Anderlecht for just shy of £1 million back in 2020. Thus, bringing an end to his 15-year association with the capital city club.
Half-a-decade later, when his Burnley side travel to the London Stadium on November 8th, Cullen will return to his old stomping ground with an armband around his bicep.
A Premier League captain, as of Thursday.
“Burnley Football Club are pleased to announce that Josh Cullen has been appointed as squad captain ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season,” reads a statement posted by the Clarets on their official website.
“The midfielder has made over 120 appearances for the club across all competitions [since joining from Anderlecht in 2022], with five goals and 11 assists to his name. He has made his mark as a commanding figure in the midfield and is recognised for his strong leadership and communication capabilities.
“During his time as a Claret, Cullen has earned the plaudits of both his teammates as well as the fans. In 2023, he was awarded both the Clubs’ Players’ Player of the Season and the Vertu Motors Player of the Season, voted for by the fans, after Burnley’s title-winning season.
“The new skipper has been an integral figure on and off the pitch throughout his Burnley career and now looks to lead the squad to another successful season.”
Cullen, who celebrated promotion for the second time when Scott Parker’s side finished second behind Leeds United in May, takes the armband after Josh Brownhill departed a few days prior.
Brownhill was heavily linked with West Ham at the beginning of the window. But, as head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay tries to bring Raphael Onyedika to England from Club Brugge, the Man United trainee appears more likely to end up at Leicester City or Leeds as things stand.
Freddie Potts hopes to establish himself under Hammers boss Graham Potter
As for Cullen, ex-Hammer Lee Bowyer described him as a natural-born ‘leader’ during a loan spell at Charlton Athletic years ago, per The Athletic.
Now, with his 30th birthday only nine months away, Cullen will receive the honour of leading his Burnley teammates out onto the pitch on the Premier League stage.
One suspects that, if Freddie Potts was told he will one day captain a club in England’s top-flight, this is an opportunity he would tear your hand clean off the bone to claim.
His ‘dream’, though, remains to tread where Josh Cullen could not.
At the end of the day, I want to be playing at West Ham because that’s always been my dream,” Potts told reporters after he, Callum Marshall and Luis Guilherme impressed during that comeback victory over Everton at Soldier Field.
“I’ve been given two opportunities now [against Man United and Everton], and I’m happy I’m with the first-team. After the two loan spells I’ve had, now is the perfect opportunity to show what I can do. I’ve had the two opportunities and tried to showcase what I’m all about.
“Everyone knows it’s a massive step up to the Premier League but this is where I want to play and, as a fan all my life, this is the club I want to play for.
“I feel there’s more to give. I’ve learned a lot in the last couple of years and I want to showcase that. There’s still a lot to learn, and being around the players who are at West Ham now, I couldn’t have asked for a better place to learn.”
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