by Staff Writer
Friday, 16th May 2025
Aaron Cresswell has released a message to supporters on the eve of his farewell home performance.
The 35-year-old Liverpudlian ends an 11-year stay at the club later this month when the Hammers visit Ipswich Town - who, ironically, happen to be the club that sold Cresswell to West Ham, for £4million, in 2014.
However tomorrow will mark his final home game when Graham Potter's side tackle Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest at the London Olympic Stadium.
"Never in a million years did I think I’d be at this fantastic club for eleven years," said Cresswell, speaking via the club's website.
"So much has happened over those eleven years, and they’ve gone so fast. Moving to London with my wife Jess, and with my two kids both being born down here and growing up loving West Ham - it’s been a third of my life.
"This is a moment of reflection. The people who I’ve met and the bonds and connections I’ve made, not just with players but with all the staff and the fans, I’ve got a great relationship with everyone at the club.
"I was just 24 when I joined West Ham. [Then] Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy said: ‘Speak to your agent as West Ham have come in for you this morning and they’ve made a bid’. It happened so fast, everything was a blur and I was down the A12 and doing a medical, then signing my contract and I was a West Ham player.
"I came in from the Championship in the summer of 2014 and maybe had a little doubt in myself about whether I would come in and play every week, but I managed to play all 38 games that first season and I remember thinking to myself: ‘I want to play as many games as I can because I don’t know when this might end;.
"I was honoured to be voted Hammer of the Year that first season, then my second we left Upton Park and had an incredible season," he continued.
"We went to places like Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool and won, Dimitri Payet and Manu Lanzini were on another level, everything clicked and we didn’t fear anyone. We managed to give the Boleyn Ground the best possible send-off in the last home game against Man United, being 2-1 down and coming back to win 3-2 was an amazing feeling."
Cresswell also recalled the moment he received his first England call-up - and a certain "Dave Martin Day" in west London - plus the dark days of Covid.
"The next year I got called-up for England and I remember the club secretary calling me while I was at home playing FIFA!" he added. "An hour later I was in the car up to St George’s Park, then a few days later I made my debut against Spain at Wembley. It was a boyhood dream come true and I was so proud.
"I always enjoyed scoring and setting up goals and was fortunate enough to score some bangers over the years against some top opposition. My favourite was ‘Dave Martin Day’ when I scored at Chelsea in November 2019, and that was with my right foot!
"We went into COVID in a relegation battle. David Moyes had us all on video calls to keep us together and we had that connection, and when we came back we managed to stay up. That is the best group I’ve been involved in in football.
"It was such a joy to come in every day and enjoy the jokes and banter, but also have the same attitude to want to do well - and we had those fantastic years in Europe. I like to think in ten or 20 years’ time we’ll all meet up again.
"To go on and win the Europa Conference League was an incredible day for everyone connected to the club as it’d been far too long coming. I’d have loved to have started the final but, for me, the bigger picture was bringing that trophy back to east London. Those three days - the night before, the night of the final and the day after - were incredible. I just didn’t want it to end."
But all good things come to an end and for Cresswell, the final opportunity to step out in front of what should be a near-capacity stadium comes this weekend. However he doesn't necessarily see the end of his playing days meaning the end of his association with West Ham United.
"I’ve had some incredible moments, and the whole journey at West Ham has been wild, but I don’t think I’d want it any other way," he said. "I’m not closing the book, I’ll never walk away. Once you’re in the West Ham family, you’re in for life - and I’m sure I’ll be back."
Once a Hammer, always a Hammer. ❤️
Leaving with the legacy of a legend, after 11 years in Claret and Blue.
Thank you, Aaron Cresswell. ⚒ pic.twitter.com/SZMUZZWiX2
— West Ham United (@WestHam) May 16, 2025
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