West Ham confirm Graham Potter as new manager

West Ham have appointed Graham Potter as their new head coach after sacking Julen Lopetegui.

Former Brighton and Chelsea boss Potter has agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract to return to management 20 months after he was dismissed by the Blues.

"I am delighted to be here. It was important to me that I waited until a job came along that I felt was right for me - and equally that I was the right fit for the club I am joining. That is the feeling I have with West Ham United," Potter said.

"My conversations with the chairman and the board have been very positive and constructive, we share the same values of hard work and high energy to create the solid foundations that can produce success, and we are on the same wavelength in terms of what is needed in the short-term and then how we want to move the club forward in the medium to long term.

Potter, 49, began his managerial career at Swedish club Ostersund and successful spells with Swansea and Brighton prompted Chelsea to appoint him to replace Thomas Tuchel in September 2022.

But he lasted just seven months into a five-year contract before being axed the following April, having lost 11 of his 31 matches in charge.

"West Ham United is a huge club, at the heart of London, with a tremendous fanbase and great support all around the world. I saw the scenes that followed their Europa Conference League victory in 2023 and it was clear that this is a club with everything in place to become consistently successful, both on and off the pitch," he added.

"The club have made a lot of good progress in recent years and ensured there are some very strong foundations in place to build on. You don't win a European trophy by fluke - there has to be a good bedrock at a football club for that to