WSL: Katie Zelem appointed West Ham captain | OneFootball

Katie Zelem has been appointed captain of West Ham United ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The experienced midfielder takes over the captaincy after making her move to East London permanent this summer.

Zelem initially joined the Hammers on loan from London City Lionesses in January 2026, before signing a three-year contract with the club in May.

The appointment gives West Ham an experienced leader at the heart of their midfield as they prepare for the new campaign.

An experienced leader

Zelem brings a wealth of experience to this West Ham squad.

Before joining the Hammers, the midfielder spent six years with Manchester United, where she became club captain and helped the side win the Women’s FA Cup in 2024.

She also enjoyed successful spells with Liverpool and Juventus. With Liverpool, Zelem won back-to-back Women’s Super League titles in her first two seasons of professional football.

Her time in Italy also proved memorable. Playing under current West Ham head coach Rita Guarino at Juventus, Zelem helped the club win their first-ever Serie A title during the 2017/18 season.

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A new chapter in East London

Zelem arrived at West Ham during the second half of the 2025/26 season.

She made her debut against Tottenham Hotspur in February 2026, before making her first start for the club in a 3-2 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion the following week.

Despite only joining midway through the campaign, Zelem quickly became an important part of Guarino’s midfield.

She finished the season with nine appearances across all competitions and reached another significant milestone when she made her 150th WSL appearance during West Ham’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa in May.

International experience

Alongside her club career, Zelem has also represented England at senior level.

The midfielder was part of the Lionesses squad at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and made two appearances during the tournament. She has also helped England win back-to-back Arnold Clark Cups in 2022 and 2023.

That international experience adds another layer to the leadership qualities she can bring to the Hammers.

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Leading the Hammers

Zelem’s appointment comes as West Ham look to build on a new era under Guarino.

The midfielder already has a strong relationship with the head coach after their time together at Juventus, which was one of the factors behind her decision to join West Ham in January.

Guarino has previously praised Zelem’s ability to dictate play from midfield, as well as her set-piece expertise and experience at the highest level. She also highlighted the midfielder’s ability to set and drive standards both on and off the pitch.

Those qualities will now be particularly important as Zelem takes on the responsibility of leading the team.

Looking ahead

At 30, Zelem becomes one of the most experienced players in the West Ham squad.

Her career has already included WSL titles, an FA Cup, international tournament experience and success abroad. Now, she will look to use that experience to help West Ham push forward under Guarino.

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The new captain will be supported by a squad that has undergone changes during the summer, with West Ham adding several new faces ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

For Zelem, the captaincy represents another milestone in an already impressive career.

Having joined West Ham at the start of 2026, she will now enter her first full season in Claret and Blue as the player trusted to lead the Hammers on the pitch.

With her experience, leadership and knowledge of the WSL, Zelem will be hoping to guide West Ham to a successful 2026/27 campaign.

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