West Ham extend Aaron Cresswell contract in boost to new boss Julen Lopetegui

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Evening Standard

·5 June 2024

West Ham extend Aaron Cresswell contract in boost to new boss Julen Lopetegui

Incoming Hammers head coach previously tried to sign the experienced left-back while in charge at Wolves

Aaron Cresswell has signed a new one-year contract that will see his West Ham career extend into an 11th season.

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The Hammers’ longest-serving player had been due to be out of contract at the end of this month but the club were keen to keep his experience within the dressing room.

The left-back was a clear second-choice behind Italian international Emerson Palmieri last season but still made 18 appearances across all competitions, including starts in both legs of the Europa League semi-final tie against Bayer Leverkusen.

He also scored in the previous round as West Ham came from a goal down to beat Freiburg 5-1 in the quarter-finals.

“10 years is a long time, and I’ve loved every minute of it here,” Cresswell told West Ham TV. “I’m delighted that I’m going to be here for at least another season.

“Me and my family are very happy down here. My son and daughter were both born here – my boy at Queen’s Hospital down the road in Romford – and he is West Ham mad.

“Every time I put the jersey on it means a lot to represent the club. This year has been a bit of a change in role – I haven’t played as much, but I’ve been in football a long time to understand that there is a bigger picture than just playing every week.

Stalwart: Aaron Cresswell has made almost 350 appearances since joining West Ham from Ipswich in 2014

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“I’d like to think I’ve done that well when not playing, supporting the team and the lads.

“Of course, I still want to play and I wouldn’t have signed the contract if I didn’t think I was fit enough and healthy enough to still do a good job for the team.

“I’ve been fortunate with injuries in my career and I’ve always tried to do the right things off the pitch, by eating and sleeping well, training hard every day and trying to keep the standards high.”

New Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui, who is replacing David Moyes this summer, is also known to be a fan of Cresswell, having tried to sign the 34-year-old during his time managing Wolves.

“This club means a lot to me and I’ll continue to make the most of every opportunity I’m given,” Cresswell added. “We’ve built on our foundations in the past three or four years, and we’re in a good place now.

“Normally when there’s a change in management you’re starting at a low point, but we’re looking up, and we want to keep progressing.

“As a senior player, I hope I can assist the transition of the new head coach coming in, and help pull everyone in the same direction to ensure we continue building and heading towards where we want to be.”