Latest news with #AaronWanBissaka
New York Times
5 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
West Ham's 2024-25 player of the season: Aaron Wan-Bissaka – defending so good fans stand and applaud
Aaron Wan-Bissaka's relatives were elated when they found out he would be joining West Ham United because they knew it would end his struggles with isolation. The right-back moved to Manchester United for £50million ($67.4m at the current rate) in 2019 from boyhood club Crystal Palace. But during his five-year spell at Old Trafford, the defender felt secluded being away from family back in London. Wan-Bissaka would often travel back to the capital after training to visit loved ones, then return to the north after. It became part of his routine but was not sustainable in the long run. It was a mitigating factor behind his lack of consistency at United. Advertisement The now 27-year-old needed a fresh start. Having ruminated on his future with family, a deal that would bring him back to London permanently seemed the best option. In August, after Ben Johnson's free-agent departure to Ipswich Town created a vacancy, West Ham signed Wan-Bissaka for £15million. It has proved to be a shrewd piece of business, with the defender reviving his career under first Julen Lopetegui, who was jettisoned in January, and more recently Graham Potter. Wan-Bissaka is feeling settled back in his hometown and his family regularly go to watch him play at the London Stadium. Before West Ham's final home game of the season against Nottingham Forest, Wan-Bissaka was named the club's player of the year. But as early as December, he was a shoo-in for the award. During the 1-1 home draw with Brighton & Hove Albion just before Christmas, he made a courageous goal-saving clearance, earning his new team a point with an incredible header to deny Tariq Lamptey. He momentarily had a sore head afterwards but some supporters stood to applaud his defending. Wan-Bissaka is known for using his long legs in sliding tackles, which earned him the nickname 'Spider'. But this season, he has markedly improved the offensive side of his game, ending with five assists and two goals across 36 league appearances — his best attacking output since two goals and four assists in the 2020-21 season. 'He's been really impressive,' Potter said following West Ham's 2-1 win at Old Trafford this month. 'As I've said before, I can't say this categorically because I don't know Aaron's career, but I can't imagine he's played as well (before) as he has for us at this point in his career. He looks like he's enjoying his football. He gives a lot to the team, (I'm) really pleased with what he's giving to the team offensively and defensively. As I said, it looks like he's enjoying his football.' Advertisement His offensive efficiency no longer a source of frustration, Wan-Bissaka's form kept Vladimir Coufal, who will leave West Ham when his contract expires in June, out of the starting line-up. Last summer's signing has also shown versatility by playing on both flanks. Wan-Bissaka assisted captain Jarrod Bowen for his 12th Premier League goal in the 3-1 victory over relegated Ipswich in the season finale. That duo formed a great partnership on West Ham's right side, with Wan-Bissaka leading the squad in assists for Bowen goals (four). 'He's been brilliant ever since he walked through the door,' Bowen said after the 1-1 home draw with Tottenham Hotspur in early May. 'He's been in the Premier League for a few years now and shown his quality and done it week in week out here. 'Another assist for him (Bowen's equaliser in that match). We knew that was a part of the game we could exploit — 'Az' (short for Aaron) bombing forward and then holding the line and trying to play offside, making those runs to get inside. And it worked perfectly to get the goal. But, yeah, 'Az' has been consistently good every single week. Every day in training. It's a pleasure to play with him and have him in our ranks.' Wan-Bissaka was voted man of the match in that game against Spurs. His season of redemption led to calls for a first senior England call-up. English-born of Congolese descent, he played for England at age-group levels and also once for DR Congo Under-20s. He was named in a squad by England's then manager Gareth Southgate in 2019, shortly after his move to Manchester United, but had to leave the get-together because of a back injury and has never made a senior international appearance. England's new manager Thomas Tuchel opted against including Wan-Bissaka in his first squad in March, and this month he received his first senior DR Congo call-up for friendlies against Mali on June 5 and Madagascar three days later. These are in preparation for their continuing World Cup qualifying campaign in the autumn and the Africa Cup of Nations finals in December and January. Advertisement It is a testament to Wan-Bissaka's consistency that he has finally earned international recognition. Unassuming off the field and not fond of media duties, he isn't a vocal player in the dressing room either, but his performances on the field make up for that. His on-field bond with Bowen offers encouragement for West Ham's attack next season. The duo finished joint-third in the 2024-25 Premier League for assists between team-mates (four). If there were a category for the Premier League's most improved player, Wan-Bissaka would be a worthy recipient. He may have felt isolated living in Manchester, but he has now found an extended family in east London.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Your West Ham player of the season
We asked you to select your West Ham player of the season from the four candidates chosen by our fan with the poll now closed, we can reveal the winner is... Aaron Wan-Bissaka!Here's what James Jones from We Are West Ham, external said about him:He found it difficult under Julen Lopetegui because he was asked to play so high up the pitch, almost like an inverted right under Graham Potter he has flourished and has arguably been our best defender since the turn of the year. A snip at £ the final poll breakdown
CNA
25-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Bowen on target as West Ham end with win at Ipswich
IPSWICH :West Ham United's Jarrod Bowen scored on his 200th Premier League appearance in a 3-1 victory at Ipswich Town as his club ended a disappointing season on a high note on Sunday. Bowen exchanged passes with James Ward-Prowse and Aaron Wan-Bissaka before slotting in his 13th goal of the season to restore West Ham's lead in 55th minute. Ward-Prowse had given West Ham a first-half lead after a wayward back pass by Ipswich skipper Sam Morsy had put Bowen through on goal and he unselfishly teed up his team mate. Ipswich, who survived only one season in the top flight, equalised after half-time through Nathan Broadhead.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Jarrod Bowen & Aaron Wan-Bissaka worthwhile outside-the-box options for Dream Team bosses ahead of Gameweek 37
JUST one Gameweek remains before the 2024/25 Dream Team season is complete. Managers intent on squeezing every last point out of the remaining fixtures would do well to consider West Ham's trip to Ipswich as a potential source of returns. The Hammers have endured a miserable campaign - they're 15th heading into the Premier League's last weekend - but Jarrod Bowen (£5.6m) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.2m) are both worthy of individual praise. More importantly, the pair are viable differential options for Gameweek 37. Bowen is statistically the most in-form forward in the game at the time of writing having banked 28 points from his last three outings. More broadly, he's scored four goals and provided two assists in the last five games. 4 The England international averages 7.5 points-per-game this season, a rate only bettered by four other players in his position. Bowen has scored 13 goals and registered 10 assists in all competitions this term and also ranks among the top four forwards for bonus points and tackles. In short, it would be reasonable to expect healthy returns from him at Portman Road on Sunday. It's worth noting that the Tractor Boys slipped to 19th in the table when they lost to Leicester last time out. 4 Wan-Bissaka was recently named Hammer of the Year by West Ham fans after an impressive first season in East London. Criticised for his limited attacking threat during his tenure at Manchester United, the 27-year-old has looked good going forward in claret and blue while still being a formidable one-v-one defender. Only Rayan Ait-Nouri (£4.8m) has completed more successful dribbles among Dream Team defenders at this late stage of the campaign. Wan-Bissaka also ranks joint-second for interceptions among all players. These stats are the main reason he's amassed an impressive 48 bonus points, a tally only bettered by one defender, Pedro Porro (£5.1m). 4 The Hammers have struggled defensively this season but a visit to Ipswich represents a good chance for Wan-Bissaka and friends to keep a clean sheet. And if the DR Congo international can earn his usual bonus points then it's not unthinkable he will finish the season with a juicy double-digit haul. The thing about Bowen (3.8% ownership) and Wan-Bissaka (2.5%) is that both are being overlooked by the vast majority of Dream Team bosses. Gaffers in need of outside-the-box options for the final weekend should give the West Ham pair due consideration at the very least.
New York Times
13-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Crystal Palace defender Joel Ward to leave club after 13 years
Crystal Palace defender Joel Ward will leave this summer after 13 years, the club have confirmed. The 35-year-old has been a mainstay of the Palace squad since his arrival from Portsmouth for a fee of £400,000 in May 2012, and is the last remaining player from the promotion-winning squad of that season. Advertisement Ward's contract is due to expire at the end of this campaign and he will not be handed an extension. He has made 363 appearances for Palace in all competitions, with 305 of those coming in the Premier League, more than any other player in the club's history, while he is the longest-serving player in the current squad. Brought in from Portsmouth by then-manager Dougie Freedman to replace Nathaniel Clyne at right-back after his departure to Southampton, Ward has played under 10 permanent managers at Selhurst Park. His versatility has seen him operate all across the defensive line and even in centre-midfield, and he was awarded the club's Young Player of the Year award in 2014. A message from Wardy 🥹#CPFC — Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 13, 2025 Ward lost his place in the team to Aaron Wan-Bissaka towards the end of the 2017-18 season following injury, and sat out much of the following campaign as Wan-Bissaka established himself as first choice. But he regained his position after Wan-Bissaka was sold to Manchester United in June 2019, making a further 142 appearances until injury and the form of Daniel Munoz limited his minutes in the current campaign, with Ward playing only twice in all competitions. 'Joel has been an incredible ambassador for this football club: open, friendly and professional, but also competitive, driven and uncompromising in the standards he sets,' chairman Steve Parish told the club website. 'Over the course of 13 years' service, Joel has been an example for all Palace players who have gone before him: in his values, in his presence, and in his dedication to representing this club with pride.' Ward said it was a 'see you later,' rather than goodbye, and told the club website it had been 'a huge privilege to wear this shirt (and) to represent this club'. 'I've been a part of this club and a part of the furniture for so long that I'd like to think I'm part of the family.' Ward's most valuable contribution came in the play-off final victory over Watford in 2012, when he cleared off the line deep into extra–time, but his experience has seen him continue to be an integral part of the squad even when his appearances have dwindled. With Clyne out of contract in 2012 and Palace expecting him to move on, Freedman revealed at a fans' forum that summer that he had found a replacement who he believed would be an upgrade on the then highly rated youngster. Advertisement The player was Ward. The pair's profiles were markedly different, with Ward more defensively-minded than Clyne, but he has been a huge success story over an outstanding 13 years at Palace. For the FA Cup semi-final victory over Aston Villa last month, Oliver Glasner revealed he returned Ward to the squad in place of Matheus Franca because of his experience, with Ward also starting Palace's defeat by Manchester United in the 2016 FA Cup final. 'He has the experience of Wembley with Crystal Palace and he is a leader in the dressing room,' Glasner said in his press conference before the Premier League match with Nottingham Forest. 'He deserves to be part of the squad in these games. I left him out of the squad for the two league games before.' Ward's professionalism, consistency and unwavering commitment over such a long period of time has been invaluable for Palace. He deserves to be considered in the conversation for the best value for money the club has made. He was not the most explosive full-back but in an era where defensive solidity was most important, he was the perfect player for Palace. As always happens in football, his time has been and gone, but he will be fondly remembered. ()
