West Ham striker Michail Antonio was taken to hospital following a car crash on Saturday morning. The 34-year-old is conscious and communicating in a central London hospital following the incident in Essex.
The club’s latest update read: “West Ham United can confirm that Michail Antonio is in a stable condition following a road traffic accident this afternoon in the Essex area.
“Michail is conscious and communicating and is currently under close supervision at a central London hospital. At this difficult time, we kindly ask everyone to respect the privacy of Michail and his family.
“The club will make no further comment this evening, but will issue a further update in due course.”
Here is everything Express Sport knows about the incident...
Michail Antonio car crash details
West Ham issued a statement after images circulated on social media of a smashed up Ferrari with rumours suggesting that Antonio had been involved. The vehicle in the photo had suffered extensive damage, although it remains unconfirmed that the car belongs to the player.
The club said: “West Ham United can confirm striker Michail Antonio has today been involved in a road traffic accident.
“The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the club are with Michail, his family and friends at this time. The Club will issue an update in due course.”
The crash happened in Essex on Saturday morning. West Ham have now confirmed that Antonio is conscious and communicating.
Essex Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the single-car collision.
Who is Michail Antonio?
Antonio is a hugely popular figure at West Ham and is the club’s all-time leading Premier League scorer. He has made over 300 appearances since signing from Nottingham Forest in 2015.
The imposing striker has risen up from non-league football, having started his career with Tooting and Mitcham. He joined Reading in 2008 and had loan spells with the likes of Cheltenham, Colchester and Southampton to further his development.
In 2012, Antonio joined Sheffield Wednesday after a brief temporary spell before moving to Forest two years later. His form at West Ham led to call-ups to a couple of England squads, but he never made his debut and has since scored five goals in 21 appearances for Jamaica.
Antonio has scored 83 goals for West Ham, although just one of those has come in 14 matches this season.
Michail Antonio messages
Many of West Ham’s rivals have sent messages of support. Manchester United wrote: “Sending love and strength to Michail, his family, his friends and everyone at West Ham.”
Chelsea said: “The thoughts of everyone at Chelsea FC are with Michail and his family.”
The Premier League responded: “The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the Premier League are also with Antonio, his family, friends and all at West Ham.”
Antonio’s former club Nottingham Forest said: “The thoughts of everyone at Nottingham Forest are with Michail, his family and friends.”
Michail Antonio car crash history
Antonio apologised to a family in Balham after crashing a Lamborghini into their front garden on Christmas Day in 2019. He was dressed as a snowman and spoke about the incident four years later on the On The Judy podcast.
"This conversation is very like… (touches chest). Still to this day, it’s hurt me. Slippery road. Obviously, in the car, it holds corners nicely in it so I’m going like 30, maybe 35, on a 30 road,” Antonio said.
“I’m thinking I don’t even need to brake, I’m just gonna go around the corner, sick car. As I’m going round the corner, it skids. So I s*** myself and I slam on the brakes.
"Worst thing you can do on ice, yeah, slam on the brakes cause you just speed up. Slam on the brakes, just skid but I’ve just gone up the curb. I don’t even remember it and then I’m seeing smoke coming out the front of the car.
"The engine's in the back so I’m thinking the car’s gonna blow up even though it’s the airbags. Having to jump out of the passenger side, the tiny car."