Ex-West Ham and Charlton Athletic star looks completely unrecognisable now | OneFootball

Diego Poyet looks a lot different now compared to his days at West Ham and Charlton

West Ham and Charlton Athletic will be competing against each other in the league for the first time since 2006/07 this season.

The Hammer suffered relegation to the Championship with an 18th place finish in the top flight in 2025/26.

This has led to their return to the second tier for the first time since 2012, when they gained promotion through the play-offs under Sam Allardyce.

However, the Addicks were down in League One in 2011/12, meaning it’s now been 20 years since they were last competing at the same level.

West Ham will have their sights set on automatic promotion under Nuno Espirito Santo, while Nathan Jones’ side will be targeting an improvement on last season’s 19th place finish.

However, the two London outfits did meet on 15 September 2020 in an EFL Cup tie that went in the Hammers’ favour with a 3-0 scoreline.

Diego Poyet undergoes unrecognisable change

Action Images

Diego Poyet has posted an image of himself on social media as he enjoys his summer in Spain with his partner and pet dog.

The 31-year-old has revealed that he has shaved his head and, along with a more grown out beard, he looks quite different from his days at West Ham and Charlton.

The former midfielder has also bulked up massively, leaving him unrecognisable from his time at both the Valley and Upton Park.

During his time in England, he had a full head of hair and was quite slender-framed, with a much lighter beard.

He has undergone a big transformation in the decade since he last competed in English football, having departed West Ham in 2016 after making a minimal impact at the club.

The Spaniard went on loan to Huddersfield Town and MK Dons before going back to Valley on a brief temporary basis.

Poyet eventually left the Hammers permanently, signing for Godoy Cruz and then Pafos, before retiring in 2018.

Diego Poyet’s impact at Charlton and West Ham

Action Images

Poyet came through the academy system at Charlton, making 20 appearances for the club in the Championship in 2013/14 before signing for West Ham.

The midfielder helped the Addicks finish 18th in the table, which led to him signing for the Hammers after just one season of senior football.

However, he was loaned out to Huddersfield in November 2014 to aid his development after he was unable to make much of an impact in three Premier League appearances.

The midfielder matured two times for the Terriers before returning to Upton Park, and he ultimately didn’t play again for the London outfit.

Poyet returned to Charlton in the 2016 January transfer window after a positive spell with MK Dons, but he continued to struggle for game time despite initially going into the starting lineup.

The 31-year-old played just six times for the Addicks, with the team coming 22nd in the table, suffering relegation to League One.

While his spell with MK Dons led to him making 18 appearances in the first half of that campaign, the club were also ultimately relegated to the third tier, as they finished 23rd.