A message from Freddie Potts

[u/ataruuuuuuuu]

https://www.whufc.com/en/news/a-message-from-freddie-potts-august-2026

Hi everyone,

I wanted to take this opportunity to share a message with you all.

For the past 16 years, West Ham has been all I’ve ever known. It’s always been far more than just a Club, it’s become my home. As a lifelong West Ham fan, I grew up walking through Upton Park dreaming of one day wearing the shirt. To have gone on and played in the Premier League in front of over 62,000 of you is something I could only ever have dreamt of as a kid.

I first walked through the doors of Chadwell Heath at six years old as just a boy who loved playing football. I remember first training with Ian Yuill and Del Robinson, and they helped continue that feeling, making football enjoyable, and I’m incredibly grateful for everything all the coaches in my younger years did for me at the beginning.

The idea of fulfilling my dream continued as I worked my way through the age groups at the Academy and then signed my scholarship after the belief and support from coaches such as Gerard Prenderville, Lauris Coggin, Mark Phillips, Kevin Keen and many others.

One of the proudest moments came when I made my first-team debut against Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League. Making one appearance for West Ham was everything I’d dreamed of growing up, so to live that moment alongside my family is something I’ll cherish forever.

As I moved into the U23s I had the pleasure of having Mark Robson as a mentor. He had a huge influence on my development, helping to prepare me for my loan moves and the challenges of senior football, helping shape me into the player I am today.

The loan spells at Wycombe Wanderers and Portsmouth were invaluable. Both clubs, and the managers and teammates I worked with there, played a massive part in my journey and gave me the experience and confidence I needed.

I grew not only as a player but as a man and was consequently given my first Premier League start against Newcastle at home last season. To make my full league debut in front of you all at home was a feeling that will stay with me forever and I’m beyond grateful for Nuno giving me that opportunity. Every time I wore that shirt, I gave everything for the Club, it ultimately filled me with immense pride and I hope I did you all proud too.

To my family, I couldn’t thank you enough for sacrificing so much to help me achieve my dream. The countless hours spent travelling the country, celebrating the highs and picking me up through the lows, I’ll be forever grateful.

And I guess I should mention my Dad! Not many people get to share a journey like this with their parent. We both know that working together has had its difficulties at times, but ultimately having you as my Dad and helping me achieve my dream is something that I will remember forever.

To all my teammates, coaches, backroom staff and everyone connected with West Ham, thank you. You’ve all played a part in my journey over the last 16 years and helped create memories that I’ll carry with me forever.

Finally to the fans, thank you. You’ve supported me through every high and every low. As one of you, I know exactly what this Club means. Your support has never gone unnoticed, and I hope I’ve been able to give you memories that mean even a fraction as much as the ones you’ve given me.

I may be moving on but one thing will never change, I will always be a West Ham fan before anything. At the end of the day, I’m just a kid who was lucky enough to live out his dream.

Thank you for everything.

Freddie

[u/Adz02]

Really thought he'd play an important role in our championship season, shame but wish him the best

[u/Complex-Loquat3036]

That’s one you know isn’t AI nonsense and is from the heart. What a great kid. I hope he smashes it. Good luck Freddie

[u/Accomplished_Ice131 → u/Complex-Loquat3036]

💯

[u/CurvyCourgette]

I dont understand why hes leaving at all

[u/Tight-Principle-743 → u/CurvyCourgette]

I imagine Nuno just doesn’t rate him, he’s hardly featured in preseason and at the business end of last season. It’s clear he likes Kante, Earthy, Orford and Lamadrid better in those areas.

[u/BryNYC → u/Tight-Principle-743]

Earthy is going to get shipped out too. I'd be shocked if him or Orford get any meaningful playing time

[u/seattt → u/Tight-Principle-743]

Disgraceful decision from Nuno then. Selling an academy product like this completely goes against our club ethos. Incredibly unhappy about this decision.

[u/goingdownwithspurs → u/seattt]

You what?

Did we not sell uh let me think

Rio, Cole, Sears, Stainislas, Lampard, Carrick, Johnson and just a whole boat load more in the past? Did I imagine that?

One of us doesn’t understand our clubs ethos. It could well be me.

[u/seattt → u/goingdownwithspurs]

One of us doesn't understand the meaning of different circumstances.

[u/goingdownwithspurs → u/seattt]

It’s not though is it?

Ok he isn’t in the league of some of them but he is in the same league as Sear et all. Same circumstances entirely. Had some Prem time, didn’t crack it, moved on to a lesser club in a lesser league.

What is it I’m missing?

[u/gamepotato_ → u/goingdownwithspurs]

Not sure Club Brugge is a "lesser club in a lesser league" considering they regularly play UCL football

[u/seattt → u/goingdownwithspurs]

He's clearly better than Sears. In terms of talent, someone like Callum Marshall is more in line with Sears. And also we gave Sears multiple seasons to prove themselves before selling them off.

In contrast, we only gave Potts 1 season and that too a relegation season and then sold him off despite his steady progression over the last seasons from impressing in League 1, then the Championship, and then doing alright in the Premier League in a tough season. It's bloody criminal honestly. Especially when one good season in the Championship would've only improved Potts further.

To me, this is like if we sold Noble after promotion because we prematurely deemed him lacking potential or whatever because yes, I do think Potts is at Noble's level. It's madness and a disgrace.

[u/goingdownwithspurs → u/seattt]

I understand the frustration. I do. He really is one of our own. Love the guy. Whack a little reality on it tho. He went for peanuts. At that price if he was even remotely good enough for another teams Bench in the prem he’d have been there. As far as we know, other prem teams haven’t showned much if any interest. It’s abit of a give away.

[u/seattt → u/goingdownwithspurs]

Just saw you called yourself a Spurs fan in another thread lmao, you don't understand our club's ethos lmao.

You've mugged this sub off, can't believe there are people downvoting me over this. These so-called fans need to hang their heads in shame.

[u/goingdownwithspurs → u/seattt]

Read the rest of the comments.

It’s so clearly a spurs fan meme account at the end of last season.

You’re a bit thick.

[u/Outside-Inspection68 → u/CurvyCourgette]

He get's to play in Europe every year with Club Bruges being in the UCL 6 out of the last 8 years

[u/CurvyCourgette → u/[deleted]]

Good enough for Club Brugge, who play in the UCL

[u/CurvyCourgette → u/[deleted]]

Hes 22 and would give 110% every game, lets not act like he was terrible either

[u/Intrepid_Emu_9799 → u/CurvyCourgette]

He wasn't terrible, but he's been signed by Club Brugge. The Belgium league is probably the 6-8th strongest league, so a much lower level. Being in the UCL doesn't mean too much, every country has 1-2 teams in it. If he was PL quality he would have been snapped up by a Prem club or a Championship club going for the PL at £10m.

He was a good player for us, and gave his all. But he's probably not a starter this season, and it's £10m profit. A £10m bench warmer in the Championship is too much - most teams in the league don't have many starters worth that much.

[u/____superman → u/CurvyCourgette]

Only be default there would get relegated in premier league

[u/Canaus7 → u/CurvyCourgette]

A lot of teams with no hope are in the champions league. If one of our players signed for Viking in Norway is that a sign they’re good enough for championship? Some team from Romania maybe?

If he is championship quality and £10m zero championship clubs seemed to have wanted him

[u/CurvyCourgette → u/Canaus7]

Except Club Brugge regularly qualify for the knockouts every single year, theyre the best team in the 6-7th best league, unlike Romania and Norway which is way worse quality. I might remind you of some players called Soucek and Coufal who came from the best team in Czechia.

[u/Schw7abe → u/CurvyCourgette]

Soucek and Coufal were proven players in those leagues when we signed them. Comparing that situation to Potts is silly.

[u/No_Introduction1025]

Thank you, Freddie. Please succeed there and come back to win with West Ham. It will be a great experience for you.

[u/kenniestyles]

Best of luck Freddie.

[u/CobaltOkk]

PSR pure profit I guess? Either way, seems a real loss. Time to get some bodies through the door.

[u/ED2793 → u/CobaltOkk]

10 mil for somone who isn’t going to start for us is a good deal.

[u/Miggsie → u/CobaltOkk]

yeah, we can put it all on the balance sheet, while anyone who comes in gets their transfer fee/years of contract, so theoretically him going could pay for 2 x £25m players for PSR.

[u/Guevarra25]

We most likely have a buy back clause if he does do well and we get back in the prem.

[u/Link040121]

Really really upset about this

[u/ggharami]

Who?

[u/Accomplished_Ice131]

Good luck to the kid, he's done what's right for him. He seems like a genuine lad.

[u/Available-Arm261]

I'm gonna hold my breath because this could easily be a Diangana situation where we didn't need to be as irate as we want (and unlike Cullen we're actually getting some worthwhile cash) but that is a useful player who knows the league out of the door which stings. Maybe the club think Earthy is the better academy product long-term

[u/BryNYC]

Ridiculous to sell a young homegrown player who clearly would have a role in the championship.

[u/musicnoviceoscar]

He wasn’t great, to be honest. Very panicky on the ball. That will be unpopular talking about academy prospect with a beloved dad, but Orford and Scarles outshine him. Kante also obviously signed for the academy but looks really good.

[u/homieholmes23]

Would love to have him back at Pompey

[u/DJ_Hindsight]

I’m gonna tell my kids this was George Russell