West Ham United youngster Callum Marshall did not rule out joining VFL Bochum on a permanent deal, shortly after completing his January loan move to the 2.Bundesliga outfit.
But while the Northern Ireland international left his Hammers future ajar early into his stint at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion, there are other factors at play here than Callum Marshall’s wants and desires.
Six months after Nuno Espirito Santo handed Marshall his senior debut in a West Ham United shirt during a 2-0 away defeat at Arsenal, the signs appear to be pointing towards a pre-season spent in East London rather than North Rhine-Westphalia.
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Edson Alvarez of Fenerbahce reacts during the Turkish Cup Group C match between Fenerbahce and Erzurumspor at Chobani Stadium on February 5, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. George Earthy of Bristol City during the Sky Bet Championship match between Ipswich Town and Bristol City at Portman Road on January 20, 2026 in Ipswich, England. Callum Marshall of VfL Bochum 1848 looks on during the 2. Bundesliga match between VfL Bochum 1848 and SV Darmstadt 98 at Vonovia Ruhrstadion on January 18, 2026 in Bochum, Germany. James Ward-Prowse of Burnley applauds the fans during the Premier League match between Everton and Burnley at Hill Dickinson Stadium on March 3, 2026 in Liverpool, England.
Callum Marshall to return to West Ham United after Germany spell
German publication WAZ provided a detailed deep dive into Marshall’s future this week.
They say that West Ham are expected to demand a fee in excess of £1 million for the former West Brom and Huddersfield Town loanee.
Callum Marshall of VfL Bochum plays the ball during the 2. Bundesliga match between VfL Bochum 1848 and SC Paderborn 07 at Vonovia Ruhrstadion
Photo by Jan Fromme – firo sportphoto/Getty Images
Marshall was tipped to fire Bochum to Bundesliga promotion when he joined three months ago. Uwe Rosler, the one-time Leeds, Brentford and Wigan Athletic coach, had his team loitering around the play-off spots.
Bochum are now only four points above the bottom three, however. Marshall scored a superb lob on his debut in German soil, but has only scored once more since; Bochum winning in just two of his 11 appearances so far.
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WAZ add that a permanent transfer would be ‘financially difficult’ if Bochum survive in the second-tier. And, therefore, pretty impossible if they don’t.
‘Another season for Marshall at VFL isn’t out of the question but, at the moment, it looks more like he’ll be leaving’, the report concludes. ‘Bochum has already identified – and potentially more cost-effective – alternatives’.
Sorry Pablo, but this team (if fit) are beating Wolves 👍
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A graphic showing West Ham United's ideal XI against Wolves.
Credit: GRV Media
Marshall did not rule out staying at VFL Bochum
It is fair to say big things were expected of a striker who finished as Huddersfield’s top scorer in 2024/25. Marshall has come in for criticism as Bochum’s play-off charge has twisted itself into a potential relegation dogfight, though WAZ insist that Rosler would still ‘love’ to keep him.
“You never know what’s going to happen,” Marshall told BILD in February. “When I was 17 [at Linfield], I thought I’d play in Ireland for the rest of my career. Two months later, I was at West Ham United.
“Everything can change so quickly. I get along well with my teammates. We’ll see what happens next.”
If we were to make an educated guess, we’d suggest that what ‘happens next’ for Marshall is a pre-season at West Ham, maybe a contract extension, and then another EFL loan.
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