Credit: Imago

James Barker

Tue 14 April 2026 17:40, UK

West Ham United should prevent Michael Forbes from becoming a free agent this summer if they are relegated to the Championship.

A number of West Ham youngsters were allowed to leave the London Stadium in this season’s summer transfer window, and Forbes was one of them.

The 21-year-old centre-back was loaned out to Northampton Town for the duration of the 2025-26 campaign in July last year.

He’d spent the first half of the 2024-25 season with Bristol Rovers, where he made 12 appearances in all competitions, before spending the second half of last term with Colchester, but failed to make a single appearance there.

And, ahead of West Ham’s upcoming summer transfer window, Hammers chiefs have a big decision to make on his future with the Club.

How well has Michael Forbes played for Northampton Town?

Forbes is contracted with West Ham until June 2026, meaning he’s only got a matter of weeks before he’s set to hit the free agent market.

The Northern Ireland international has been with the Hammers since the summer of 2020, when he left his home country to sign a two-year scholarship deal with United.

Standing all of 6’2″ tall, Forbes most likely knew that this Northampton loan move was his final chance to make an impression on West Ham decision-makers, and that’s been reflected in his performances.

Playing 22 times for the Cobblers in League One this season, he’s started 19 of those and has contributed two goals and an assist to the cause as well.

As per Sofascore, Forbes has won 59 per cent of his total duels per league game this year, with a 63 per cent win rate on the ground and 57 per cent in the air respectively.

He’s also made zero errors leading to goals, received only one yellow card and zero red cards, averages 5.7 clearances per 90 and has an 81 per cent pass success rate inside his own half, as well as winning one penalty.

West Ham may need Forbes in the Championship

As such, Forbes has been a big part of Northampton’s team this season, and his strong numbers only make for better reading when you consider that the Cobblers already all-but relegated to League Two.

Should West Ham drop into the Championship for the first time since 2012 for next season, then there sure to see a number of senior centre-backs departing the London Stadium.

The likes of Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jean-Clair Todibo and Axel Disasi surely wouldn’t follow the Hammers into the second tier, whilst Max Kilman is a player that will likely be moved on from regardless this summer.

Therefore, West Ham could be left very thin on the ground in central defence in that event, and so having a defender in Forbes who has EFL experience and has proven that he’s probably a level above League One, could ease a lot of transfer pressure.