Of the many Premier League stalwarts to leave West Ham United when their contracts expired on July 1st, Aaron Cresswell is the first to escape from footballing purgatory with a move to Stoke City.
While Valencia eye up Kurt Zouma, while Lukasz Fabianski awaits a fresh start in London, while Fulham close the door on Vladimir Coufal, it has only taken Aaron Cresswell ten days to find a new home.
The 35-year-old left-back returns to England’s second tier for the first time since leaving Ipswich Town for West Ham United over a decade ago.
Both Cresswell and Danny Ings were linked with ambitious Wrexham earlier in the summer.
But while the former England international centre-forward is still pursuing a fresh start of his own, perennial underachievers Stoke jumped at the chance to finalise a 12-month deal for a footballer whose experience and set-piece threat could go a long way to helping the Potters finally challenge towards the top end of the division.
ACF Fiorentina v West Ham United FC - UEFA Europa Conference League Final 2022/23
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Former West Ham United coach Paul Nevin helped Aaron Cresswell choose Stoke City
Cresswell reunites with a familiar face at the Bet365 Arena.
Paul Nevin spent three years alongside David Moyes at the London Stadium from 2020 to 2023. The former West Ham assistant now sits next to Mark Robins on the Stoke bench, and played a key role in luring Cresswell to Staffordshire.
“I’m really appreciative of the opportunity to join Stoke City and I’m excited for the season ahead,” Cresswell tells the official Potters website.
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“Having spoke with Jon [Walters, sporting director], the gaffer, and Nev – who I worked with at West Ham United – it was evident how passionate they are about the project here, while their determination to bring success to the club was clear.
“I have been fortunate to work in environments of high standards and professionalism throughout my career. That’s something which is ingrained in me and I will deliver every day.
“I’m now looking forward to meeting the lads and getting straight to work in Spain this week [during a pre-season training camp].”
Nevin celebrated Europa Conference League glory alongside the veteran full-back back in 2023.
Jon Walters explains Cresswell signing as West Ham eye El Hadji Malick Diouf
Aaron Cresswell feels he still has a lot to offer, even with his 36th birthday only a few months away.
He is likely to challenge Eric Junior Bocat for the left-back spot in Robins’ four-man backline. Back at West Ham, meanwhile, Graham Potter is expected to let Emerson Palmieri depart as well after the Brazil-born Italian slipped behind teenager Ollie Scarles in the pecking order.
Hammers News also understands that West Ham have chosen El Hadji Malick Diouf – Slavia Prague’s £21.5 million flyer – as their first-choice target to reinforce the left-hand flank.
“Aaron’s career speaks for itself, both in terms of his quality as a player and his character,” says the aforementioned Walters, who scored 43 goals in 233 Premier League appearances as a player for Stoke, Burnley and Bolton Wanderers.
“Everyone we have spoken to has had nothing but praise for him, not just for his ability but for his professionalism and the way he carries himself.
“To have played almost 600 games at the level that he has says everything about how well Aaron looks after himself, how reliable he is, and how much trust managers have consistently placed in him throughout his career.
“We’re delighted to welcome Aaron into the Stoke City family and look forward to seeing him wear the red and white stripes at the Bet365 Stadium.”
Stoke have not finished in the top half of the Championship table since their long spell in the Premier League came crashing down in 2018.