On Thursday, the Premier League team confirmed that Jamaican striker Michail Antonio had left West Ham United after the club chose not to renew his contract at the end of last season.
The 35-year-old hadn’t played for West Ham since his accident in December, when he broke his thigh bone in four places after his car hit a tree on the way home from training.
Antonio moved from Nottingham Forest to the London club in 2015. He scored 83 goals in 323 games for West Ham, making him the team’s all-time top scorer in the Premier League.
Even though they didn’t renew the player’s contract, West Ham United nonetheless offered him training, facilities, and medical treatment.
“Michail will always be a beloved and respected part of the West Ham United family.” “Since December, the Club has been helping him with his rehabilitation and will keep doing so. If he needs it, they will give him access to training, facilities, and medical care,” West Ham said in a statement.
“Talks are still going on about his future role with the Club, possibly in a different capacity that would allow others to benefit from his experience and leadership skills. He will always have a special place in our 130-year history.”
West Ham won the Europa Conference League in 2023, ending their 43-year wait for a major trophy. Michail Antonio was a key player in the triumph.
In June, Antonio came back to the main action as a substitute for Jamaica in a CONCACAF Gold Cup game against Guatemala. West Ham’s first game in the Premier League will be against Sunderland on August 16.
