Aaron Cresswell knew right from minute one that Divin Mubama, the one-time West Ham United starlet now at Stoke City, was not going to be overawed by the challenges ahead of him.
The former Hammers left-back recalls watching a 17-year-old Mubama charge into Craig Dawson on the training pitch.
Now, Dawson was as physical and as imposing as they come. Yet, a teenage centre-forward looking to make a name for himself in a claret and blue kit possessed both the strength and the self-confidence to go shoulder-to-shoulder with a defender nearly twice his age.
And Aaron Cresswell, who finds himself reunited with a now-20-year-old Divin Mubama in the Potteries, cannot wait to see what comes next.
Mubama scored a stunning header on his Stoke debut against Derby County back in August. Talk about starting as you mean to go on.
Alongside Sorba Thomas, Mark Robins’ Welsh wing wizard, the two former West Ham youngsters fired Stoke to three wins out of three before a defeat by West Brom last time out ended that 100 per cent start.
Cresswell, the third Stoke player with West Ham United on his CV, is now more convinced than ever that Mubama is demonstrating ‘all the attributes’ to take his prolific youth-team record into the senior game.
Aaron Cresswell - Ipswich Town FC v West Ham United FC - Premier League
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Aaron Cresswell makes Divin Mubama prediction as former West Ham United kid shines at Stoke
Divin Mubama left West Ham for Manchester City last summer, opting against extending his contract and moving on for a compensation fee of just £2 million.
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A return of 20 goals and assists from 14 Premier League 2 appearances in a Man City shirt was a reminder of what the Hammers had, with Stoke now the beneficiaries of the England Under-20 star’s fearsome potential.
“I speak sometimes now with, like, Divin who who’s just kind of starting his career off. And there’s times where you reflect and you sit back and you think, ‘where’s that time gone?’,” smiles Cresswell, the veteran full-back 15 years his teammates’ senior.
“It just goes so fast. You want to try and bottle every moment up. I remember joining West Ham [from Ipswich Town in 2024]. I think I was 23, relatively young. Joining a Premier League club was a massive eye opener.
“You want to help the younger boys now and pass the experience on in any way you can. But yeah, the one thing I will say is it just goes so fast.”
Mubama, who joined West Ham’s academy back in 2013, made 18 first-team appearances for the London outfit.
Considering that he has played just twice in Man City colours, it is tempting to question the logic of leaving the Hammers for a side boasting far greater competition and much deeper pockets.
With Niclas Fullkrug and Callum Wilson in their 30s, the irony is that Mubama would likely have a clear pathway to the first team these days back home in the capital.
“It didn’t quite work out for him at West Ham and he’s obviously signed for Man City, and yeah I’m really really looking forward to watching him this season,” adds Cresswell.
“He’s got all the attributes to be a top striker.”
Divin Mubama during Burnley FC v West Ham United - Premier League
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Cresswell recalls Mubama’s battle with Craig Dawson
Cresswell, a Conference League winner and fifth on the club’s all-time Premier League assist charts, recalls the first time he really took notice of Mubama on the training pitch. It was an introduction Craig Dawson presumably won’t forget any time soon.
“He’s a great lad. He’s humble. He’s willing to work hard. So he’s one that I’m I’m keeping an eye on this year,” Cresswell smiles.
“Obviously, I’ve known Divine since he was a young kid, you know. I’ll never forget. We actually spoke about it the other week when he first joined us, I think he must have been 17 at the time on a pre-season tour.
“I remember thinking, ‘Gosh, who’s this kid?’. He’s enthusiastic, putting himself about. I remember he was coming up against Craig Dawson, who is a big centre-half and I remember him just absolutely flying into him and I thought, ‘Yeah, he’s got a bit about him’.
“And now look!”