Jesse Lingard explains why he snubbed West Ham
(Credit: Imago)
Jack Dawson
Fri 30 May 2025 14:10, UK
West Ham have struggled to sign attackers in recent years who have gone on to be a success at the London Stadium.
Multiple forward players have joined the London club who have gone on to be flops.
Gianluca Scamacca only scored eight goals for West Ham in all competitions before he departed.
On top of this, Niclas Fullkrug has struggled with fitness at the Hammers this season.
However, one star who had a successful stint at West Ham was Jesse Lingard, who never returned to the London club after his loan spell.
Niclas Fullkrug
Niclas Fullkrug has struggled since his move to West Ham (Credit: Imago)
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Lingard reveals he ‘didn’t have a choice’ when rejecting West Ham in 2022
One of West Ham’s most successful transfers in recent years was the short-term loan of Lingard.
The former England international joined the Hammers in January 2021 and shone at the London Stadium.
The attacking midfielder netted nine goals in 16 matches and subsequently won the Premier League Player of the Month for April.
His form also helped the Hammers finish sixth as they qualified for the Europa League.
Jesse Lingard at West Ham
Appearances 16
Goals 9
Assists 5
Honours Premier League Player of the Month x1, Premier League Goal of the Month x1
Lingard was sensational at West Ham
Therefore, many fans were puzzled when Lingard opted to join recently promoted Nottingham Forest in 2022 over West Ham after he revived his career at the London Stadium just a year prior.
However, the 32-year-old has now revealed that he “didn’t have a choice” when he rejected the Hammers for Forest.
He told BBC Sport (30 May): “The Forest deal, when we were going through that – and I don’t want to go into too much detail – but I wasn’t in control of anything at that time.
“I basically didn’t have a choice. I knew what I wanted to do, I knew what offer was on the table from West Ham and what was on offer from Forest – there was a place I’d have preferred to go.
“But people have their own say and at the time I didn’t really feel like I could voice my opinion.
“Now I can see people didn’t have my best interests [at heart]. But obviously West Ham didn’t happen. I went to Forest.
“The Forest thing happened for a reason, for me to find out certain things.”
West Ham
Jesse Lingard was a massive success at West Ham
Lingard could have been a Premier League star at West Ham
In the end, Lingard’s transfer to Nottingham Forest didn’t work out, and he eventually left in 2023 before he joined FC Seoul in 2024.
It now appears evident that the move to the East Midlands side was not a wise career move, and Lingard could have easily become a Premier League star once again at the Hammers.
His form at the London club in the 2020/21 campaign was sensational, and it even earned him a call-up back to the England squad.
If the attacking midfielder did rejoin West Ham, it is likely that both parties would now be better off.
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