West Ham United face a series of decisions over the futures of four first-team players whose contracts are due to expire in June 2027, with Tomáš Souček, Alphonse Areola, Maxwel Cornet and Joël Veltman all approaching the final year of their current deals.
The issue will be particularly significant as the Hammers adjust to life in the Championship and pursue an immediate return to the Premier League under Nuno Espírito Santo.
West Ham contracts put Souček and Areola under scrutiny
Souček is the most established member of the group. The Czech midfielder joined West Ham in 2020 and has made more than 280 appearances for the club, playing a prominent role in their European campaigns and several battles against relegation.
West Ham will now have to decide whether the 31-year-old remains central to their plans beyond the 2026/27 season. If no agreement is reached, Souček would be free to leave when his contract expires next summer.
Areola’s position is less secure. The French goalkeeper has been used as cover since Mads Hermansen took the starting role, and the club’s official team selections this season have confirmed the Dane as their first choice.
Hermansen joined West Ham from Leicester City on a five-year contract with a further-year option, leaving Areola facing a fight for regular football as the club weighs up whether to retain him.
Cornet and Veltman also face uncertain futures
Cornet is another player whose long-term position remains unclear. His deal is scheduled to run until June 2027, although West Ham are understood to have an option that could extend his stay by another year.
The winger spent part of last season away from east London and will need to establish himself in Espírito Santo’s plans if he is to remain part of the club’s next phase.
Veltman completes the quartet. The Dutch defender only joined West Ham in August 2026 after six seasons with Brighton, but his contract situation means the club may already have to consider whether he has a role beyond the current campaign.
West Ham’s recruitment and financial planning will therefore be closely linked to their promotion bid. The club confirmed after relegation that Espírito Santo would remain in charge, with the manager making an immediate return to the top flight his central objective.
Decisions on Souček, Areola, Cornet and Veltman are unlikely to be made in isolation, with performances, squad requirements and the outcome of the Championship campaign all expected to influence whether the players are offered new terms or allowed to leave.
