West Ham delay Michail Antonio contract decision due to ‘unique situation’ | OneFootball

Antonio targeting return to action in next few weeks but his future remains uncertain following broken leg from car cash

West Ham have delayed a decision on whether Michail Antonio will be offered a new contract or be released due to his “unique situation”.

Antonio has not played since breaking his leg in a car crash in December but is targeting a return in time to feature for Jamaica at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which begins on Saturday.

He had played in all of West Ham’s Premier League matches last season before his car crash. Antonio has worked hard to return to fitness after breaking his femur in four places, spending a prolonged period in the UAE at a private gym.

Antonio has not played since breaking his leg in a car crash in December

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On Sunday, Antonio posted an image on social media of him clasping the Conference League trophy in 2023, when he was part of the West Ham team that won the club its first European trophy since 1965.

West Ham gave an update on Antonio's future on Monday morning, with the striker due to be out of contract on June 30.

“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,” a West Ham statement read.

“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.”

West Ham centre-back Kurt Zouma, who is currently on loan with Al-Orobah in Saudi Arabia, will leave as a free agent at the end of the month.

The Hammers had already confirmed that Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal and Danny Ings would also be departing, with loanees Evan Ferguson and Carlos Soler returning to parent clubs Brighton and Paris Saint-Germain.