West Ham United Defenders 2024/25

West Ham United defenders lineup showcases a blend of seasoned veterans and promising talents, reflecting the club’s commitment to both experience and future potential. Here’s an overview of the club’s defense squad for the 2024/25 season.

1. Aaron Cresswell

Aaron Cresswell is an experienced left-back who currently plays for West Ham United in the Premier League. Born on December 15, 1989, in Liverpool, England, he has been a key player for the club since joining in 2014.

Cresswell began his professional career with Tranmere Rovers, making 70 league appearances before moving to Ipswich Town in 2011. At Ipswich, he made 138 appearances and scored six goals, earning a reputation as a reliable defender. His performances caught the attention of West Ham United defenders squad, and he signed with them in July 2014.

Since joining West Ham, Cresswell has been a consistent presence in the team, known for his defensive solidity and ability to contribute to the attack. He has also earned three caps for the England national team, making his debut in 2016.

  • Date of Birth: December 15, 1989
  • Nationality: English
  • Transfer Fee: £3.75 million
  • Former Clubs: Tranmere Rovers, Ipswich Town

2. Vladimír Coufal

Vladimír Coufal is a committed and versatile right-back who currently plays for West Ham United in the Premier League. Born on August 22, 1992, in Ludgeřovice, Czech Republic, he has become a fan favorite since joining the club in October 2020.

Coufal began his professional career with Hlučín and had loan spells at Opava before moving to Slovan Liberec, where he made over 150 appearances and won the Czech Cup in 2015. In 2018, he joined Slavia Prague, winning two Czech titles and one Czech Cup. At West Ham, Coufal is known for his defensive solidity, work rate, and ability to contribute to the attack. He has also been a regular for the Czech Republic national team since his debut in 2017, representing his country at UEFA Euro 2020.

  • Date of Birth: August 22, 1992
  • Nationality: Czech
  • Transfer Fee: £5.4 million
  • Former Clubs: Baník Ostrava, Slovan Liberec, Slavia Prague

3. Emerson Palmieri

Emerson Palmieri is a professional footballer who plays as a left-back for West Ham United defenders roster in the Premier League. Born on August 3, 1994, in Santos, Brazil, he represents the Italy national team.

Emerson began his career at Santos in Brazil before moving to Italy, where he played for Palermo and AS Roma. In 2018, he joined Chelsea FC, where he won several major trophies, including the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Champions League, and UEFA Super Cup. After a loan spell at Lyon, he transferred to West Ham United in 2022.

At West Ham, Emerson has continued to impress with his defensive skills and ability to contribute to the attack. He made history by becoming the first player to win all five major UEFA competitions after West Ham’s victory in the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2023. Internationally, Emerson initially played for Brazil at the youth level but later switched to represent Italy, making his senior debut in 2018. He was part of the Italy squad that won UEFA Euro 2020.

  • Date of Birth: August 3, 1994
  • Nationality: Italian
  • Transfer Fee: £13 million
  • Former Clubs: Santos, Palermo, Roma, Chelsea

4. Konstantinos Mavropanos

Konstantinos Mavropanos is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for West Ham United in the Premier League. Born on December 11, 1997, in Athens, Greece, he is known for his strong defensive skills and aerial ability.

Mavropanos began his career with Apollon Smyrnis before moving to PAS Giannina in 2016. His impressive performances earned him a transfer to Arsenal in 2018. After loan spells at 1. FC Nürnberg and VfB Stuttgart, he joined VfB Stuttgart permanently in 2022. He signed with West Ham United FC players squad on a five-year contract in August 2023. Internationally, Mavropanos has represented Greece since 2021, earning numerous caps and contributing to the national team’s defense.

  • Date of Birth: December 11, 1997
  • Nationality: Greek
  • Transfer Fee: £17 million
  • Former Clubs: PAS Giannina, Arsenal, VfB Stuttgart

5. Maximilian Kilman

Maximilian Kilman is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for West Ham United in the Premier League. Born on May 23, 1997, in London, England, he has a unique background, having also played futsal at a high level.

Kilman began his youth career at Fulham FC and Gillingham before moving to Maidenhead United, where he made a significant impact. In 2018, he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he developed into a reliable defender. Known for his height, strength, and composure on the ball, Kilman made over 120 appearances for Wolves. In July 2024, Kilman signed with West Ham United, where he continues to be a key player in their defense. He is also notable for his international experience, having represented England in futsal before focusing on his football career.

  • Date of Birth: May 23, 1997
  • Nationality: English
  • Transfer Fee: £40 million
  • Former Clubs: Maidenhead United, Wolverhampton Wanderers

6. Jean-Clair Todibo

Jean-Clair Todibo is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for West Ham United in the Premier League, on loan from Nice. Born on December 30, 1999, in Cayenne, French Guiana, he has had a diverse career across several top European clubs.

Todibo began his career at FC Les Lilas before moving to Toulouse, where he made his Ligue 1 debut in 2018. His performances caught the attention of Barcelona, and he joined the Spanish giants in January 2019. During his time at Barcelona, he had loan spells at FC Schalke 04 and Benfica.

In 2021, Todibo joined Nice, where he became a regular starter and helped the team reach the Coupe de France final in 2022. In August 2024, he moved to West Ham United defenders lineup on a season-long loan with an option to make the transfer permanent. Known for his strong tackling, game reading, and ball distribution, Todibo has also represented France at the international level, making his senior debut in 2023.

  • Date of Birth: December 30, 1999
  • Nationality: French
  • Transfer Fee: Loan
  • Former Clubs: Toulouse, Barcelona, Schalke 04, Benfica, Nice

7. Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back for West Ham United in the Premier League. Born on November 26, 1997, in Croydon, England, he is known for his exceptional defensive skills and one-on-one tackling ability.

Wan-Bissaka began his career in the Crystal Palace academy, making his senior debut in 2018. His impressive performances earned him the club’s Player of the Year award in his only full season. In 2019, he moved to Manchester United for a significant transfer fee, where he won the FA Cup and EFL Cup and made 190 appearances over five seasons.

In August 2024, Wan-Bissaka joined West Ham United on a seven-year contract. He has continued to excel as a defender, contributing to the team’s success. Internationally, he has represented England at various youth levels.

8. Kurt Zouma

Kurt Zouma is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for West Ham United in the Premier League, currently on loan at Al-Orobah in the Saudi Pro League. Born on October 27, 1994, in Lyon, France, he is known for his physical presence, aerial ability, and strong defensive skills.

Zouma began his career at Saint-Étienne, making his professional debut at the age of 16. He won the Coupe de la Ligue with the club in 2013. In January 2014, he joined Chelsea, where he won two Premier League titles, an EFL Cup, a UEFA Champions League title, and a UEFA Super Cup. During his time at Chelsea, he also had loan spells at Stoke City and Everton.

In August 2021, Zouma joined the West Ham United FC defenders roster, where he quickly became a key player. He helped the team reach the UEFA Europa League semi-finals in 2022 and win the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2023. In August 2024, he joined Al-Orobah on loan.

Internationally, Zouma has represented France at various youth levels and made his senior debut in 2015. He has earned several caps for the national team.

  • Date of Birth: October 27, 1994
  • Nationality: French
  • Transfer Fee: £29.8 million
  • Former Clubs: Saint-Étienne, Chelsea, Stoke City (loan), Everton FC (loan)

9. Nayef Aguerd

Nayef Aguerd is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for West Ham United in the Premier League, currently on loan at Real Sociedad in La Liga. Born on March 30, 1996, in Kenitra, Morocco, he is known for his strong defensive skills and aerial ability.

Aguerd began his career at the Mohammed VI Football Academy before moving to FUS Rabat, where he won the Moroccan Throne Cup. In 2018, he joined Dijon in France, and later moved to Rennes in 2020. His performances in Ligue 1 earned him a transfer to West Ham United in June 2022. He played a key role in West Ham’s UEFA Europa Conference League victory in 2023.

Internationally, Aguerd has been a regular for the Morocco national team since 2016, representing his country in multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

  • Date of Birth: March 30, 1996
  • Nationality: Moroccan
  • Transfer Fee: £30 million
  • Former Clubs: FUS Rabat, Dijon, Rennes

10. Kaelan Casey

Kaelan Casey is a young and promising defender who currently plays for West Ham United in the Premier League. Born on October 28, 2004, in Brentwood, England, he has been with West Ham’s academy since he was five years old.

Casey made his senior debut for West Ham on November 3, 2022, in a UEFA Europa Conference League match against FCSB. He was also part of the West Ham U18 team that won the FA Youth Cup in 2023, scoring a goal in the final. He made his Premier League debut on May 11, 2024, in a match against Luton Town.

Known for his defensive skills and leadership qualities, Casey has also represented England at the U20 level since 2024.

  • Date of Birth: January 1, 2005
  • Nationality: English
  • Transfer Fee: N/A (Academy Graduate)
  • Former Clubs: N/A

11. Ollie Scarles

Ollie Scarles is a young and versatile midfielder who currently plays for West Ham United in the Premier League. Born on December 12, 2005, in Bromley, England, he has been with West Ham’s academy since he was eight years old, with a brief stint at Chelsea.

Scarles made his senior debut for West Ham on November 3, 2022, in a UEFA Europa Conference League match against FCSB, where he delivered an exceptional performance. He was also part of the West Ham U18 team that won the FA Youth Cup in 2023. Scarles made his Premier League debut on December 16, 2024, as a second-half substitute in a match against AFC Bournemouth. Known for his technical skills and versatility, Scarles has represented England at various youth levels, including U16, U17, and U18.

  • Date of Birth: December 16, 2006
  • Nationality: English
  • Transfer Fee: N/A (Academy Graduate)
  • Former Clubs: N/A

12. Ezra Mayers

Ezra Mayers is a young and promising centre-back who currently plays for West Ham United’s U21 team. Born on January 16, 2007, in England, he has been with West Ham since July 2024. Standing at 1.83 meters tall, Mayers is known for his calmness in possession and his good range of passing. He made his debut for the U18s as a schoolboy and has continued to develop his skills, often being the player to build attacks from the back.

  • Date of Birth: May 7, 2007
  • Nationality: English
  • Transfer Fee: N/A (Academy Graduate)
  • Former Clubs: N/A

West Ham United’s Defensive Depth for 2024/25

West Ham United’s defensive setup for the 2024/25 season illustrates a well-rounded balance of experience, versatility, and youthful energy. Senior players like Aaron Cresswell and Kurt Zouma provide leadership and reliability, while signings such as Konstantinos Mavropanos, Maximilian Kilman, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka inject fresh quality and competition into the squad.

The club has also focused on nurturing future stars with academy graduates such as Kaelan Casey, Ollie Scarles, and Ezra Mayers being integrated into the first-team setup. This strategy not only strengthens the current squad but also ensures sustainability in the long term.

West Ham’s defense will face tough challenges in the Premier League and European competitions. However, the blend of seasoned professionals and upcoming talents positions the team well to tackle these demands, aiming to build on the successes of previous seasons and establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with.