Whatever happens in the final few months of this campaign, Aaron Wan-Bissaka has already enjoyed a stellar first season in east London, which has seen him become a pivotal part of West Ham United’s squad.
Having joined from Manchester United in August 2024, Wan-Bissaka has featured in defence 30 times for the Hammers this term. Deployed as a right-back or a right-wing back, the 27-year-old standout 1v1 defender, has shown the versatility required and become one of our most important creative outlets.
On the surface, two goals and two assists this season are not headline-grabbing. However, Wan-Bissaka is already two-thirds of the way to his best Premier League return of six goal involvements in 2020/21, with nine matches still to play, and has firmly cemented his status as a fan favourite among the London Stadium faithful.
Inevitably, our No29 is delighted with how his West Ham career has begun and expressed a determination to maintain his levels. As a man of few words, he tends to do his talking on the pitch.
“I'd say I'm happy!” Wan-Bissaka beamed. “I've really enjoyed it. I’ve joined a great group here at West Ham, and everyone wants to win, everyone wants to do well. I think that's one thing every player wants to do, just enjoy their football, be able to smile and just try and help the team.”
The Hammers get back underway in the top-flight with an early spring evening midweek fixture in the West Midlands at Wolverhampton Wanderers, determined to build on an encouraging run of form by kicking on in the final months of the season.
Potter’s charges head into their Molineux meeting having yielded seven points from their last four Premier League matches, and Wan-Bissaka believes the squad are have plenty still to play for as we enter the run-in.
“I think we’re heading in the right direction,” added Wan-Bissaka. “I think we can finish higher than where we're at [in the table] right now. With games coming up, if we take those opportunities, we can move from that [16th-place] position, and I think we have it in us to do it.
“We've still got plenty to play for. There’s no extra motivation needed because you don't want to finish low in the table at the end of the season, so you've just got to keep pushing towards the end.
“We could have got more [points] out of the last four games, and those are the games that hurt us when you walk away without three points.
“I don't think any game is easy, but the main focus is just on ourselves and how we go into that game. It won't be an easy game [against Wolves], and we know how direct they can be, but we’ll do our best to get three points.”
Potter has changed a little bit of everything in his opening few months at the Club, such as moving to a back three, attacking wing-backs and a pair of number tens behind the front man.
And Wan-Bissaka, who is relishing his new role as a rampaging wing-back, insists his early impressions of the 49-year-old are positive and insists he sees a bright future for West Ham.
“I've enjoyed every minute [working under Potter],” Wan-Bissaka added. “I think every manager is different. You're not going to have one that's the same. Everyone has their way of coaching and managing, but I've enjoyed it, and so has the team as a whole. You can see everyone's happy and enjoying the work that we’ve done.
“I think we're going to get better, and anything is possible with this team.
“He has put me at right wing-back, which means I’m competing at both ends of the pitch. Obviously the number one priority is our own box, as I'm a defender, but I’ve enjoyed expressing myself and being me.
“It's really boosted my confidence, and I'm really relishing it at the moment and enjoying it.”
After starting against Everton earlier this month, Wan-Bissaka hit a big career landmark by reaching 200 appearances in the Premier League, and the defender was brimming with pride after being presented with a special award at Rush Green training ground last week.
He said: “It’s a really proud moment. It’s been over seven years now since that first Premier League game.
“I’m very grateful for it as well. It hasn't been easy, and there could have been moments where I could’ve gone off track, but you have to just keep focused on your goal and just stay on track no matter the situation, and I kept my head down and managed to reach 200 appearances, so it's a big achievement for me.
“Now I just want to play as many games as possible and enjoy every game as it comes. You can't play forever, so you’ve got to enjoy every moment.”
