West Ham United activate contract extension clauses for Vladimir Coufal and Aaron Cresswell
West Ham United have triggered the extension options in the contracts of Vladimir Coufal and Aaron Cresswell, meaning they’ll stay beyond this summer.
Both players were due to be free agents at the end of the season in June 2023, and there had been little chatter about whether or not there would be renewals on the table for the full-backs.
However according to The Athletic (29 May), both players saw their deals extended during the season after the club triggered options in their existing contracts to keep them on the same terms into next season.
“Although it has not been announced, earlier this season the club activated the one-year option in Cresswell’s contract,” they wrote.
“It will take Cresswell to 10 years at the club, having joined from Ipswich Town in 2014. But it is unlikely the full-back will be rewarded with a testimonial in 2023-24 due to the cost.
“Similar to Cresswell, the clause in Coufal’s contract was activated earlier this season. His existing deal expires in 2024 with an option of a further year.”
Smart
As far as the decision to renew the contract of Coufal goes, it’s smart business and a sensible decision by those people running the club at West Ham.
The Czech defender has rediscovered his best form in recent months and established himself firmly as the first-choice right-back or right wing-back at the club and letting him go would have been a mistake.
As for Cresswell, it makes sense because of his experience and leadership in the dressing room. With that said though, he can’t be relied upon going into the new season.
Emerson has shown he is already a better option on the left either as a full-back or wing-back, and there is likely to be another player brought in to further strengthen the role – with reports of a bid for Nuno Tavares being made.
But the club have made the decisions to keep both players around for next season at least, and fans should be happy about it all.