Antonio on verge of West Ham exit | OneFootball

Michail Antonio appears set to depart West Ham when his current contract ends later this month.

The striker has been on the comeback trail after breaking his leg in a car accident six months ago, but has yet to finalise terms on a new agreement with the club.

The Hammers have aided Antonio throughout his rehabilitation and proposed a short-term extension on reduced wages, with performance-related bonuses tied to appearances. However, the 35-year-old, currently earning around £90,000 a week, is seeking a longer deal with greater financial security.

With no agreement in place, Antonio - who netted once in 15 appearances before his accident last season - seems increasingly likely to leave the club.

Since arriving from Nottingham Forest in 2015, Antonio has scored 83 goals for West Ham and has exceeded recovery expectations during his comeback. He had hoped to persuade Graham Potter to include him in the squad late last season and remains eager to demonstrate his fitness by playing for Jamaica at this summer’s Gold Cup.

West Ham, on the other hand, are preparing to overhaul their squad under Potter, targeting a youthful striker as part of their summer recruitment. While no final verdict has been delivered regarding Antonio’s future, the club has made clear he is being handled differently than other out-of-contract players whose deals end on 30 June. For formal purposes, he has been registered as a free transfer.

“Given Michail Antonio’s unique situation, following his serious road traffic accident in December 2024, there will be no formal decision and announcement on his future until such time that it is considered right and appropriate,” read a club statement.

“However, as his current contract is also due to expire on 30 June, for the purposes of the Premier League Retained List procedure at the end of the 2024-25 season, Michail will be listed as a free transfer.

“As a long-serving, highly-respected player, and a much-loved member of the West Ham family, the club’s absolute priority at this time is to support Michail personally in his journey to resume playing at the highest level.”

Additionally, West Ham confirmed that Kurt Zouma, who spent the previous campaign on loan with Saudi Arabian side Al-Orobah FC, will be leaving the club.