West Ham United have parted ways with manager Graham Potter after a dismal start to the Premier League season, the club confirmed on Saturday. The Hammers sit 19th in the table with just three points from five matches.
“Results and performances over the course of the second half of last season and the start of the 2025/26 season have not matched expectations,” the club said in a statement. “The Board of Directors believe that a change is necessary in order to help improve the team’s position in the Premier League as soon as possible.”
West Ham have endured a torrid opening to the campaign, losing 5-1 at home to Chelsea, 3-0 to Tottenham Hotspur, and 3-0 to newly-promoted Sunderland. Their most recent outing was a 2-1 home defeat against Crystal Palace on 20 September, which left them with the worst defensive record in the league, conceding 13 goals in five matches.
Prior to that loss, thousands of supporters staged protests against the club’s ownership, directing their anger at chairman David Sullivan and vice-chairman Karren Brady.
Potter, 50, arrived in January 2025 to replace Julen Lopetegui, but he failed to turn the team’s fortunes around. The former Brighton and Chelsea manager oversaw only five wins in 20 league games last season as West Ham finished 14th. He also became the first Hammers boss not to reach double figures in points from his first 10 home league fixtures.
The club suffered an exodus of senior players during the summer, with Aaron Cresswell, Vladimir Coufal, Danny Ings, Michail Antonio, and Kurt Zouma all departing. Mohammed Kudus also left, joining Tottenham in a £55 million move.
West Ham spent around £70 million to rebuild, bringing in full-back El Hadji Malick Diouf, goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, and striker Callum Wilson, but the investment has so far failed to deliver results.
Potter becomes the second Premier League manager to be dismissed this season after Nuno Espírito Santo’s exit from Nottingham Forest. The Portuguese is among the candidates being considered to take over at the London Stadium.
West Ham’s next match comes on 29 September away to Everton, managed by former boss David Moyes, who led the club to the 2023 UEFA Conference League title before leaving in 2024.
