BREAKING: West Ham sack Julen Lopetegui as Graham Potter set to take over

West Ham United has sacked manager Julen Lopetegui after just 22 games in charge, with former Chelsea boss Graham Potter poised to take over at the London Stadium.

The Hammers currently sit 14th in the Premier League, just seven points clear of the relegation zone, having won only six of their 20 league games under Lopetegui.

A humbling 4-1 defeat to Manchester City over the weekend was the breaking point for the club’s hierarchy.

In a statement, the club said: “The first half of the 2024/25 season has not aligned with the club’s ambitions and the club has therefore taken action in line with its objectives.”

The statement added: “The board would like to thank Julen and his staff for their hard work during their time with the Hammers and wish them every success for the future.”

Lopetegui, 58, was appointed in May 2024 following the departure of David Moyes. Despite a hefty £125 million ($155 million) summer investment in players like Max Kilman, Crysencio Summerville, and Niclas Fullkrug, the former Spain and Real Madrid boss struggled to deliver results.

His tenure was marred by heavy defeats, including a 5-2 loss to Arsenal and a 5-0 drubbing by Liverpool, both at home.

Under Moyes, West Ham had qualified for European competition for three straight seasons, culminating in their 2023 Europa Conference League triumph—their first major trophy in 43 years.

Lopetegui’s inability to maintain that momentum has prompted the club to look elsewhere.

Reports suggest the club also considered former AC Milan manager Paulo Fonseca and ex-PSG boss Christophe Galtier before turning to Graham Potter. Potter, 49, has been without a club since his Chelsea sacking in April 2023, after just seven months in charge.

Despite a challenging stint at Stamford Bridge, he earned acclaim for his transformative spells at Brighton and Swansea and began his managerial career at Swedish club Ostersund.

West Ham is set to face Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round on Friday, amid hopes Potter will bring stability and fresh ideas to the struggling side.

Lopetegui’s dismissal marks the fifth managerial change in the Premier League this season, following the exits of Erik ten Hag, Steve Cooper, Gary O’Neil, and Russell Martin.