In the next instalment of our 2023/24 Season Review, we revisit the Irons' fortunes at the turn of the year, with a look at how they got on in January...
Topping their UEFA Europa League group before Christmas afforded West Ham United the luxury of only having to deal with domestic action in the opening months of 2024, although they struggled to capitalise on this advantage and earned just two points in the Premier League across January.
Top-flight draws against Brighton & Hove Albion and Sheffield United bookended a largely disappointing few weeks on the pitch, that also saw an FA Cup exit at the hands of EFL Championship outfit Bristol City.
Arguably the most dramatic moment of the month arrived at Sheffield United on 21 January, where the Hammers twice led but were twice pegged back in a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Maxwel Cornet's first goal for the Club gave the visitors a 28th-minute lead, only for Ben Brereton Díaz to level right on half-time.
James Ward-Prowse's 79th-minute penalty sparked a crazy end to the game, which saw both Rhian Brewster and Vladimír Coufal receive red cards and Oli McBurnie score an equalising spot-kick 13 minutes into stoppage time.
Off the pitch, the winter transfer window saw England international Kalvin Phillips arrive on loan from Manchester City, while Thilo Kehrer and Saïd Benrahma joined AS Monaco and Olympique Lyonnais on loan respectively.
West Ham United also confirmed the departure of fan-favourite Pablo Fornals after four-and-a-half seasons with the Hammers, during which he made 203 appearances and scored 23 goals.
Fornals joined Spanish La Liga side Real Betis in January, but will always retain a place in West Ham folklore after netting the goal at AZ Alkmaar that confirmed the Irons’ passage to the UEFA Europa Conference League final in May 2023.
The midfielder also netted memorable goals in Premier League wins over Liverpool, Aston Villa, Leicester City and Southampton, the latter of which clinched the Club’s qualification for the UEFA Europa League in May 2021.
There was movement from within the Academy of Football during January as well, as off the back of the U21s' run to the Bristol Street Motors Trophy last 16, Gideon Kodua was loaned to EFL League One side Wycombe Wanderers, while Callum Marshall joined EFL Championship outfit West Bromwich Albion on a temporary deal.
Marshall, who made his home Northern Ireland debut in October, also made his senior bow for West Ham United, appearing as a late substitute in the FA Cup third-round replay defeat away to Bristol City.
