Following their disappointing relegation from the Premier League, West Ham United were widely expected to secure an immediate return to the top flight.
Considering the size and stature of the club, their financial resources and the quality of several players who remained at the London Stadium, there was a strong belief that the Hammers could dominate the Championship and potentially run away with the title.
However, Nuno Espírito Santo’s team endured a difficult opening to the campaign, going winless in their first three matches. Since then, though, West Ham have started to show exactly why they were regarded as promotion favourites before the season began.
The Hammers have now won four games in a row, scoring an impressive 16 goals during that run.
Their 6-0 demolition of Wrexham was arguably their most convincing performance so far. West Ham completely overwhelmed their opponents, with Wrexham struggling to contain the Hammers’ attacking quality throughout the match.
The 4-2 victory over Wolves was also impressive, but the emphatic win against Wrexham felt like a statement result. It served as a warning to the rest of the Championship that West Ham are beginning to find their rhythm.
Although the victory was built around an excellent team performance, Joel Piroe and Manor Solomon were particularly impressive. Both players have adapted quickly since arriving at the London Stadium and are already making a significant impact.
Piroe, who joined West Ham from Leeds on an initial loan deal, will inevitably be judged by the number of goals he scores. So far, he has found the net three times in six appearances, giving him a promising start.
Solomon, meanwhile, arrived from Tottenham and produced an outstanding display against Wrexham, scoring once and providing an assist. His pace, dribbling and ability to beat defenders caused problems throughout the game.
Piroe and Solomon bring proven Championship quality
West Ham’s recruitment this season underlines just how important promotion is to the club, and the decision to bring in Piroe and Solomon makes considerable sense.
Both players have already demonstrated that they can perform at Championship level.
Piroe played a key role in Leeds United’s promotion campaign in 2024/25, winning the Championship Golden Boot after scoring 19 goals. He had previously produced impressive numbers during his time at Swansea City, scoring 22 goals in one of his full seasons.
His record at this level made him a reliable option for West Ham, particularly given the quality of players around him.
Piroe’s Championship record is also impressive, with 76 goals and 18 assists from 185 appearances.
Solomon has spent much of his career competing at a higher level. His experience includes European football with Shakhtar Donetsk, Premier League spells with Tottenham and Fulham, as well as periods in La Liga with Villarreal and Serie A with Fiorentina.
While some of those moves did not go exactly as planned, they underline the level of experience and quality Solomon possesses.
His previous Championship campaign with Leeds in 2024/25 was particularly impressive. Working under Daniel Farke, Solomon played a major role in the club’s title-winning campaign, finishing the season with double figures for both goals and assists.
West Ham possess serious attacking firepower
When Piroe and Solomon are combined with Jarrod Bowen and Taty Castellanos, West Ham arguably possess one of the most dangerous attacking groups in the Championship.
The statistics have already reflected that attacking threat. The Hammers currently boast the highest expected goals (xG) figure in the league and have scored 20 goals in their opening seven matches.
There will inevitably be concerns about injuries during the long season, while the depth behind the main attacking options could also be tested.
Nevertheless, each of those four players has the individual quality to decide matches on their own.
Wrexham experienced exactly what West Ham can produce when their attacking players are all performing at the same time, and the Hammers could be capable of producing several more convincing victories as the campaign progresses.
Nuno expects his experienced players to deliver promotion
West Ham’s objective this season is straightforward: they need to return to the Premier League.
That ambition explains why the club targeted proven Championship performers such as Piroe and Solomon during the transfer window.
The rest of the squad also possesses considerable experience and quality by Championship standards. Mads Hermansen, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Max Kilman and Arne Engels provide a strong spine to the team, while Divine Mukasa is one of the few players in the likely starting XI who has yet to reach his peak.
Even so, Mukasa has made an excellent start to the campaign and has shown that he can contribute despite his age.
Given the pressure that comes with representing a club of West Ham’s size, Nuno Espírito Santo will be counting on his experienced players to handle the demands of the promotion race.
The squad has the pedigree, attacking quality and Championship experience required, and the challenge for Nuno will be ensuring his players maintain that level throughout the season and ultimately guide West Ham back into the Premier League.
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