West Ham's Premier League fixtures: Full 2025-26 schedule and key dates
West Ham kick off their 2025-26 season with a long trip to newly-promoted Sunderland, and host rivals Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur by the middle of September.
Their final game of the campaign is also against newly-promoted opposition in the form of a home game against Leeds United.
West Ham did not qualify for European competition in 2025-26 and Graham Potter's side had a tough campaign, getting knocked out in the third round of the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup.
Advertisement
All times in BST/GMT
By West Ham writer Roshane Thomas
Graham Potter, who replaced Julen Lopetegui in January, will hope to replicate the club's promising start to the campaign in 2023-24, when West Ham amassed 10 points from a possible 12 in their first four league games.
Potter begins the season under a degree of pressure after winning only five of his first 18 league matches as head coach, losing eight and drawing five.
The former Brighton and Chelsea manager will be under intense scrutiny if he fails to restore confidence with a slow start. Last season, West Ham had a paltry return of one league win (against Crystal Palace) in the first six games, losing three and drawing two.
There is a tough early encounter against Chelsea, who West Ham have not beaten in the league since August 2023.
In terms of the other early matches, Nottingham Forest did the double over Potter's side last term, Tottenham Hotspur will hope for a new manager bounce with Thomas Frank, Crystal Palace is a bogey team and ex-manager David Moyes will aim to continue his resurgence with Everton.
The exceptional pre-Club World Cup transfer window opened on June 1 and closed nine days later on June 10.
The summer window re-opened on June 16, while the cut-off date for the 2024-25 profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) reporting period coming at the end of the month on June 30. The window closes on Monday, September 1, at 11pm BST (6pm ET).
The winter transfer window opens on Thursday, January 1, and closes on Monday, February 2.
The new Premier League season gets underway on the weekend of August 15-17, a week after the Community Shield on August 8, when league champions Liverpool face FA Cup winners Crystal Palace.
Advertisement
The final match round will be played on Sunday, May 24, 2026, when all 10 matches will kick off simultaneously as usual.
Premier League clubs will enter the FA Cup at the third round, which begins on Saturday, January 10. The Carabao Cup will begin in mid-August, with Premier League teams not playing in Europe entering in the second round, which starts in the week commencing August 25, and the remaining seven clubs receiving a bye to the third round, which takes place in the weeks commencing September 15 and 22.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
16 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Liverpool signs Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for huge fee that could climb to $156 million
Associated Press Liverpool delivered a huge statement of intent after winning the Premier League title by signing Germany star Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen on Friday. The transfer fee could climb to 116 million pounds ($156 million), which would make the 22-year-old Wirtz the most expensive player in the history of British soccer. 'I feel very happy and very proud," Wirtz told the official Liverpool website. "Finally it's done and I was waiting for a long time. 'I'm really excited to have a new adventure in front of me. This was also a big point of my thoughts: that I want to have something completely new, to go out of the Bundesliga and to join the Premier League. 'I will see how I can perform there. I hope I can do my best. I spoke also with some players who played there and they told me that it's perfect for me and every pitch is perfect, you can enjoy every game. I'm really looking forward to playing my first game.' Liverpool, determined to keep moving forward despite securing a record-tying 20th English top-flight title, splashed out a club record to bring in not only one of the best players from Germany, but one of the top youngsters in the world. Wirtz has been a key first-team player for Leverkusen since he was 17. He was the outstanding attacking player in the team that won the Bundesliga and German Cup in 2023-24 without losing a game, and is a regular in Germany's national team. It's why Liverpool was ready to pay a guaranteed 100 million pounds, plus 16 million pounds in potential add-ons. Wirtz had two years left on his contract, giving Leverkusen leverage in negotiations. The Premier League record for an initial fee was set when Chelsea signed Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for 106.7 million pounds ($131.4 million at the time) in 2023, before the London club agreed to pay up to 115 million pounds ($146 million at the time) for midfielder Moises Caicedo from Brighton later that year. Liverpool manager Arne Slot arrived last summer and signed just one outfield player — forward Federico Chiesa — for the 2024-25 season. Chiesa barely played and the Reds won the league by 10 points, after which Slot and some of his players — including Virgil van Dijk — spoke about there being big plans for this transfer window. Having already signed right wing back Jeremie Frimpong from Leverkusen for a reported 35 to 40 million euros ($39.7 million to $45.4 million), Liverpool has returned to the German club to take Wirtz, who rejected an opportunity to join Bayern Munich — a Bundesliga rival which has long pursued him. One obstacle to that move was the size of the fee Leverkusen wanted. Another was concern over how Wirtz might fit into the same lineup as Jamal Musiala, Germany's other standout young attacking midfielder. Losing Wirtz leaves Leverkusen and its new coach, Erik ten Hag with an even bigger rebuild following the departure of Xabi Alonso for Real Madrid. Just after his 17th birthday, Wirtz became the youngest player in Leverkusen's history when he made his debut against Werder Bremen in May 2020, in an empty stadium at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. A month later he was the youngest player to score in Bundesliga history, though that record has since been topped. Wirtz's versatile attacking midfield play was a vital ingredient in Alonso transforming Leverkusen into a team that could win the Bundesliga and German Cup without losing a game. He and Alonso stayed for another sometimes-disappointing season which ended with second place to Bayern in the league and a loss to Bayern in the Champions League round of 16. Wirtz showed he can deal with adversity when a cruciate ligament tear in his knee ruled him out for almost all of 2022 — including Alonso's first games as coach — before he returned to power Leverkusen to its league and cup double in 2023-24. Wirtz has become a vital player for the German national team with 29 caps. He played all five of its matches at Euro 2024 on home soil. He's also had to contend with hostility from fans of his boyhood club Cologne, which he left for nearby Leverkusen at 16. Liverpool and Bayern were reportedly interested then, too. Cologne claimed that deal broke an agreement between the clubs not to pursue each other's youth players. Leverkusen argued Wirtz was so talented that he counted as a first-team player despite his age. Cologne and Leverkusen are barely 10 kilometers (6 miles) apart, so going to Liverpool will be the first time that Wirtz has moved away from his roots. His parents Hans Wirtz and Karin Gross have played a big role in his career — they were also his agents until last year — and he's close to his older sister Juliane, a professional player for Werder Bremen in the women's Bundesliga. Wirtz's decision to turn down Bayern and the Bundesliga for Liverpool has caused some raised eyebrows in Germany. 'I wouldn't have thought Florian would make this switch so early,' former Germany great Lothar Matthäus told broadcaster n-tv last month. 'But he wants to get out of his comfort zone.' Wirtz seems likely to slot in as the No. 10 at Liverpool, a more creative solution in that role compared to the hard-running Dominik Szoboszlai. Whether Slot also now pushes for a new striker as an upgrade to current options Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez remains to be seen. Szoboszlai could drop back into one of the two deeper midfield positions, competing with Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones. ___ AP soccer: recommended
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool newcomer Florian Wirtz motivated to build on Leverkusen achievements
Liverpool's record signing Florian Wirtz insists he has not moved to Anfield to 'have fun' but believes it is the right place for him to improve and be successful. The Premier League champions have paid Bayer Leverkusen £100million for the 22-year-old Germany international but that fee could potentially become a British record as there are £16m of add-ons included. Advertisement If achieved that would surpass the existing mark of £115m which Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo in 2023 and it is understood Liverpool will be happy to pay these 'aspirational bonuses' as it will mean they have enjoyed considerable success at elite level. And that is what Wirtz, one of Europe's hottest properties, is determined to contribute to. 'I'm not coming (to) have fun here, I want also to achieve something and give the fans what they deserve,' he told the club's website. 'Of course I want to keep going at this performance. So yeah, that sure gives motivation to achieve more. 'I would like to win everything every year. First of all, we have to do our work, I have to make my work. In the end, we want to be successful. Advertisement 'Last season they won the Premier League, so my goal is for sure to win it again and also to go further in the Champions League. I'm really ambitious.' Wirtz has signed a five-year deal and at 22 has his best years ahead of him. He wants to continue the progress which saw him score 57 goals and contribute 64 assists in 197 appearances for Leverkusen. 'This was also a big point for me: that I will improve my own personal level and physical levels because I think everyone knows that in Liverpool the players are machines – really strong and really physical,' he added. 'But I see this also as an opportunity for me to get better in this point. So yeah, I just thought this was the right place for me.' Advertisement Liverpool saw off competition from Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to secure Wirtz. Leverkusen had valued him at £126m but a compromise was reached last week, although the up-front fee easily outstrips the £85m deal Liverpool agreed with Benfica in 2022 for Darwin Nunez, who is expected to leave this summer. 'I'm really excited to have a new adventure in front of me. This was also a big point of my thoughts: that I want to have something completely new, to go out of the Bundesliga and to join the Premier League,' he added. Jeremie Frimpong has also made the move from Bayer Leverkusen to Anfield (Peter Byrne/PA) Wirtz is Liverpool's second signing of the summer, following close friend and Leverkusen team-mate Jeremie Frimpong to Anfield, and with the Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvilli joining next month after a deal was agreed a year ago spending has already reached £175m. Advertisement That is set to be pushed beyond the £200m mark with a £40m fee agreed for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez. It is their biggest summer window since 2018 when Naby Keita, Fabinho, Xherdan Shaqiri and Alisson Becker were recruited for around £170m, with Virgil van Dijk having signed for £75m the previous January. Owners Fenway Sports Group have, despite their 'Moneyball' reputation, not been afraid to splash out big fees for transformative players like Van Dijk and Alisson – and Wirtz falls into that category. The club have already recouped around £26m with the departures of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Caoimhin Kelleher with further funds expected to be generated from the likes of Nunez, Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa and potentially Andy Robertson, who is a target for Atletico Madrid.
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Plymouth Argyle confirm Austria training camp as part of pre-season
Plymouth Argyle's pre-season schedule under their new head coach Tom Cleverley will include a week-long training camp in Austria. The Pilgrims will play a behind-closed-doors friendly on Saturday, July 5 before travelling to Austria on the Sunday. They will have one match on Friday, July 11, against opposition to be confirmed, before returning to the UK the next day. Advertisement Argyle will then make the trip into Cornwall to play 2024/25 National League South champions Truro City on Wednesday, July 16 (7.30pm) before they have a still to be confirmed fixture on Saturday, July 19. READ MORE: Gareth Bale linked to Plymouth Argyle takeover bid by US-based group READ MORE: Wrexham sign Plymouth Argyle striker Ryan Hardie on three-year contract The Pilgrims will play Paul Wotton's Torquay United, who were pipped to the National League South title by Truro on goal difference at Plainmoor on Wednesday, July 23 (7.30pm) before Championship side Bristol City visit Home Park on Saturday, July 26 (3pm). Advertisement Argyle will then begin their 2025/26 League One campaign the following weekend as they bid to bounce back to the Championship at the first attempt after their relegation last term. The club's head of football operations David Fox said: "We are pleased with the competitive pre-season schedule we have put together so far, so the team are ready for the Sky Bet League One season ahead. "It is brilliant that we will be playing a pre-season game at Home Park for the first time in a while and we look forward to welcoming the Green Army back to PL2 ahead of the regular season. "We are also excited to head to Austria for a pre-season camp which will see the players tested in not only warm weather, but at altitude as well, which will challenge the squad and improve their fitness immensely. Advertisement "The season is fast approaching and all of us here at Argyle are just as excited as the Green Army to see football return once again." Argyle Women, under their new head coach Marie Hourihan, will also play a pre-season game at Home Park on Sunday, July 27, with the opponent to be confirmed imminently. You can read more of our Argyle stories from Plymouth Live by clicking HERE
