At 32, Alphonse Areola met his fifth season meticulously with West Ham and his third as a titular goalkeeper. He started four of the five of the Hammers preparation matches in recent weeks, especially during a tour in the United States with three shocks on the program against Manchester United, Everton and Bournemouth. It was without counting the arrival, a few days ago, from Mads Hermansen, recruited for 20 million euros in Leicester (relegated to championship).
The promising Danish 25 -year -old goalkeeper was set off by Graham Potter for the opening of the Premier League season. With their new number 1, the Hammers took the water on the field of Sunderland (3-0) on Saturday afternoon. The promoted led by Régis Le Bris caught fire in the second half with three goals scored by Eliezer Mayenda (61st), Daniel Ballard (73rd) and Wilson Isidor (92nd).
West Ham continues with the reception of Chelsea at London Stadium next Friday, and Areola should rather find the starting eleven of his team four days later in the 32nd finals of the EFL Cup against Wolverhampton. Jean-Clair Todibo, Nayef Aguerd and Lucas Paqueta were holders in the first match in Sunderland.
Areola and the Blues, is it over?
The 2018 world champion is at a turning point in his career, when he probably has several high level years ahead of him. Alphonse Areola is saying goodbye to the French team, ten years after their selection debut. The player trained at PSG was the faithful number 3 of Didier Deschamps on the last competitions, until the League of Nations matches last November.
In March, the tricolor coach promoted Lucas Chevalier and the little LOSC prodigy now at PSG has passed number 2 behind Mike Maignan at the expense of Brice Samba. If Areola is no longer holder in West Ham, Deschamps may take the opportunity to summon a new little in the event of failure of her three goalkeepers. The Blues are back in two and a half weeks for their first two matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Iceland (in Poland and then in the Parc des Princes).
