West Ham decide to part ways with Nuno Espirito Santo after Premier League drop
West Ham United have made their final call on manager Nuno Espirito Santo after their drop to the Championship. Despite a tough 2025/26 season, West Ham were relegated on the very last day, even though they won 3-0 against Leeds United in their final game.
The Hammers ended the season with 39 points, just two behind their London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who won 1-0 against Everton to stay up. This relegation has sparked questions about the future of some key players, with names like Matheus Fernandes, Jarrod Bowen, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka linked to possible moves.
It’s not only the players’ futures that have been in doubt—many thought West Ham might part ways with Nuno less than a year after he joined. Nuno took over in September after Graham Potter was let go, and during his time he won 12 of 37 games. Even with the disappointing results, many fans hoped Nuno would stay, and now their wish has come true.
The club released a statement confirming that Nuno will continue as head coach despite the relegation, following talks since Monday. The statement said, “We had meetings with Nuno earlier this week and are glad he remains committed to the club, just as we are to him. He is very motivated to help West Ham get back to the Premier League as soon as possible—that has to be our clear goal.”
They also highlighted Nuno’s past success in the Championship, pointing out he led Wolverhampton Wanderers to a record 99 points and the title in 2018. The board believes there have been positive signs and progress recently, and they want Nuno to keep building on that.
Among the players linked with moving on, midfielder Matheus Fernandes seems the most likely to leave. Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has reportedly recommended him to his club officials, so a summer move could be on the cards. Fernandes joined West Ham from Southampton last summer for about £42 million, but the club would only consider selling him for double that fee.
As for club hero Jarrod Bowen, his future is still unclear, with talks of interest from Liverpool despite his hopeful words after the final game. Bowen said, “I’m under contract here. There will be rumors and talk, but my focus is on getting this club back to the Premier League. I’ve had great times here, and although this is a tough moment, I want to see us back in the top flight.”
So, while it’s been a hard season for West Ham, the club is ready to fight back with Nuno leading the way.