1. She is close friends with Hammers past and present
New signing Verena Hanshaw joins West Ham United women’s team with the comfort of already knowing one member of the squad, Shekiera Martinez.
The duo played with each other at Eintracht Frankfurt for six years and built a strong friendship in that time. Hanshaw admitted she had many phone calls with the Germany U23 international, whose opinion was key in her decision to join the Club.
But Hanshaw also had links with the Hammers at Roma, where she was best friends with former Irons defender Hawa Cissoko. The new signing stated the France international reconfirmed everything that Martinez had told her about West Ham, though she was sad to say goodbye to one of her closest friends in Italy.
2. She is the first Austrian to play for the women's team
In a moment of history, Hanshaw becomes the women’s team’s first-ever Austrian player. The Vienna-born defender started her career at USC Landhaus Wien in 2009, making 15 appearances and scoring her first professional goal in the process.
A year later, she made her first international appearance for Austria’s U17s and would then go on to represent their U19s before breaking into the first team.
Moreover, she is now the third Austrian player to have signed for West Ham in the Club’s 130-year history, joining Emanuel Pogatetz and Marko Arnautović.
3. She has already won silverware this calendar year
2025 was only six days old when Hanshaw lifted a piece of silverware.
She started for AS Roma in their Supercoppa Italiana final with Fiorentina and played all of the battle at Stadio Alberto Picco. Her side ran out 3-1 winners thanks to goals from Benedetta Glionna, Valentina Giacinti and Alice Corelli as Roma lifted the trophy for the second time in three seasons.
And the defender will hope her success in Italy was just her first trophy of the year. After all, 'Verena' means 'bringing victory'.
This was not the first time Hanshaw has clinched silverware in her career. In 2012/13, the 31-year-old helped BV Cloppenburg to the Frauen-Bundesliga 2 title with a seven-point buffer over second-placed Herforder SV Borussia Friedenstal.
4. She is an experienced international
A stalwart of the Austria team, Hanshaw has reached incredible heights with her national side. She made her maiden appearance on the international stage in 2011 and has gone on to play a further 109 times to date.
She shone at UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 as Austria progressed all the way to the semi-finals of the competition. They topped the Group C standings with seven points from their three matches, against France, Switzerland and Iceland, before knocking out Spain on penalties in the quarter-finals - and Hanshaw was one of the five players to dispatch a spot-kick.
Austria were taken to penalties again in the semi-finals against Denmark, but, unfortunately, that was where their tournament ended. Although her team were unable to progress to the final, Hanshaw was named in the Best Eleven at the end of the competition for her impressive performances.
Hanshaw also started all four of Austria’s matches at UEFA Women’s Euro 2022, but they were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Germany.
5. She cannot wait to get going in Claret and Blue
A busy month lies ahead for the women’s team as they prepare to compete in three different competitions over the next two, three-game weeks.
This presents a brilliant opportunity for Hanshaw to integrate herself into the side, and she cannot wait to step out in West Ham colours, in front of the Claret and Blue faithful.
“I'm super excited,” she said. “I heard a lot about the fans, especially how supportive and proud they are [of the team], and I hope I can repay them with my personality and qualities. And who doesn't like to be welcomed into a stadium with bubbles?
“I like the fact that I can't think too much [about playing her first game], I can't make myself crazy. I'm here, I'm ready to go and I'm ready for everything that’s to come.”
6. She celebrated her birthday at Chadwell Heath!
Hanshaw enjoyed a very special first day completing her media duties at Chadwell Heath, as she celebrated her birthday on 20 January, and was surprised with a birthday cake at the end of her first interview with the Club!
