🚨BREAKING NEWS 🚨
Three West Ham Players Fans May Have Forgotten Are Still at the London Stadium
West Ham United have gone through a major change this summer, with the club taking the opportunity to make big changes to the squad following their relegation from the Premier League.
A large number of players have left the London Stadium during the transfer window as the club looks to build a team capable of competing strongly in their new campaign. In total, 16 players have departed the club in one way or another, making it one of the busiest summers at West Ham in recent years.
Several exits were hardly a surprise. Players such as Crysencio Summerville, Jean-Clair Todibo and Mateus Fernandes were among those who were expected to move on as part of the club’s rebuild.
However, despite the huge number of departures, not everyone has found a new club.
There are still a few familiar names on West Ham’s books who could easily have been forgotten by supporters after spending long periods away from the first-team picture.
With the club’s squad looking very different, here are three players who have surprisingly remained at the London Stadium.
Maxwel Cornet remains a West Ham player
One player whose continued presence at West Ham may come as a surprise to many supporters is Maxwel Cornet.
It feels like a long time ago since the winger arrived in East London. Cornet joined West Ham from Burnley in the summer of 2022 after the Hammers decided to activate his £17.5 million release clause.
At the time, the move looked like an exciting addition to the squad. Cornet had impressed during his time at Burnley and was expected to bring pace, creativity and attacking quality to David Moyes’ side.
Unfortunately, his time at West Ham has not gone according to plan.
The winger has not played a competitive match for the Hammers since the 2023-24 season. Instead, the Ivory Coast international has spent the last two campaigns away from the club on loan.
His most recent period away from the London Stadium has been particularly difficult.
During the first half of the 2024-25 campaign, Cornet made only four appearances for Southampton. He was then sent to Serie A side Genoa for the second half of the season.
The move to Italy initially offered him an opportunity to rebuild his confidence and get regular football. Cornet managed to score twice and register one assist in seven appearances for Genoa.
Those numbers were enough for the Italian club to bring him back on another season-long loan deal last term.
However, his second spell was far less productive.
Cornet made only eight appearances in all competitions and failed to register either a goal or an assist.
That meant the winger returned to West Ham with his future once again uncertain.
Cornet’s West Ham future remains unclear
Cornet is still under contract with West Ham until 2027, meaning the club remain tied to the player despite his limited involvement over the past two seasons.
West Ham have reportedly been unable to find a new destination for the winger during this summer’s transfer window.
As a result, Cornet remains part of the club’s squad for now.
His situation is an interesting one because the Hammers have already made major changes to their squad. With so many players leaving, supporters could have reasonably expected Cornet to be among them.
Instead, he remains at the London Stadium.
Whether he can force his way back into the team is another question.
The winger has not played regularly for West Ham for some time, and his recent loan spells have done little to suggest that he is close to returning to his best level.
There is therefore a real possibility that Cornet could spend another frustrating season on the sidelines if the club are unable to find a solution.
A summer of major changes
Cornet’s situation also highlights just how dramatic West Ham’s squad changes have been this summer.
After relegation from the Premier League, a major rebuild was always going to be necessary. The club needed to reduce the size of the squad, move on players who were no longer part of the plans and bring in a group capable of competing in a different environment.
Sixteen players leaving during the transfer window demonstrates the scale of the task facing the club.
For supporters, however, the departures may have made it easy to forget about players who have spent much of their time away from the club.
Cornet is one of those names.
He joined West Ham for a significant fee and was once viewed as an important attacking option. Yet after injuries, inconsistent form and a series of loan moves, his role at the club has become increasingly difficult to define.
Now, with his contract running until 2027, West Ham must decide what to do next.
The club could still look for another opportunity to move him on, but if no suitable offer arrives, Cornet may remain in East London.
Who else has stayed?
Cornet is not the only player whose future has attracted attention after the summer clear-out.
With so many first-team players departing, some supporters may be surprised to discover that several other names are still technically West Ham players.
These players have spent considerable periods away from the spotlight, whether through loan spells or because they have fallen down the pecking order.
The rebuild under Nuno Espirito Santo has changed the look of the squad considerably, but there are still a few familiar faces waiting in the background.
For some, remaining at West Ham could provide one final opportunity to prove their worth.
For others, it may simply mean another difficult season without regular football.
Either way, their presence shows that the summer rebuild is not quite finished.
West Ham may have said goodbye to 16 players, but there are still players at the London Stadium who many fans may have forgotten about.
And with the new season underway, their next moves could become an interesting part of the Hammers’ story.
