Jarrod Bowen unique: West Ham captain on his choice to stay with the Hammers after relegation from the Premier League | Soccer Information

When West Ham have been relegated from the Premier League after 15 years again in Could, it appeared inevitable Jarrod Bowen wouldn’t be there to hitch them as they returned to the Sky Wager Championship.

The Hammers captain had carried out all he might to try to hold them up; he had began each sport and performed the whole lot of all however two, scoring 9 targets and offering 11 assists.

Hypothesis about the place his future may lie was rife. After six-and-a-half seasons within the high flight, might he actually return to the second tier and go up the potential alternative to play European soccer once more?

That query was answered emphatically on July 17 when Bowen adjusted his present deal to make sure he’s dedicated to the membership for 2026/27, although the size of the contract stays the identical, expiring in 2030.

West Ham misplaced key gamers Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville this summer time, however their talisman stays to spearhead the bid for an instantaneous return to the Premier League.

‘Nobody wanted to promote this membership to me’

“I used to be requested about my future after we have been relegated and it was about making the suitable choice for myself,” the 29-year-old tells Sky Sports activities.

“I considered it as what is going on to be the most important ‘what if?’ after I retire? There’s going to be ‘what ifs’ no matter you do, nevertheless it was going to be that one that might nag away at me for years and years to come back.

“I knew I needed to give it a go to get this membership again into the Premier League. That was the overriding issue.

“There have been totally different talks, there have been totally different possibilities of me leaving, so it wasn’t a call that was made in a single day. It was one thing I needed to sit down and take into consideration for myself as a result of soccer is so intense and full-on week in, week out.

“I am positive there’s heaps being stated about choices, nevertheless it’s about me, it is about what I need, what I feel’s finest for my profession.”

Bowen visited Daniel Kretinsky – West Ham’s largest shareholder – in Prague over the summer time. “Nobody must promote the membership to me. It was simply an sincere dialog about what we need to do as a membership shifting ahead,” Bowen says.

He insists his spouse Dani Dyer and father-in-law Danny Dyer – each diehard West Ham followers – didn’t affect his choice both. “They’re by no means going to be in my ear saying ‘I feel it’s best to keep or I feel it’s best to go’.”

“I’ve come on leaps and bounds as an individual and a participant since I have been right here,” he provides.

“I simply love enjoying soccer, scoring targets and dealing onerous for the workforce on a regular basis. The followers have felt a connection to me, I’ve felt a connection to the followers and it is simply been proper. That is crucial factor.

“Typically, issues can really feel pressured and never actual, however for me all the pieces has felt actual. We have had some actually nice moments and I’ve cherished each minute.”

‘I felt like I deserved to be in England’s World Cup squad’

Bowen’s type all through 2025/26 was electrical. In 42 video games in all competitions, he scored 11 targets and supplied 12 assists, averaging one aim involvement each different sport.

Thomas Tuchel was conscious and, in his first 12 video games answerable for England, he performed Bowen on eight events.

However when the squad for the 2026 World Cup was introduced on Could 22, Bowen’s title was lacking from the checklist.

“Do not get me unsuitable, it was tough. OK, we obtained relegated, however as a person, I felt like I contributed nicely. We did not do nicely and perhaps that went in opposition to me,” he continued.

“It was tough to observe to start with as a result of I felt like I deserved to be there. Anybody in the identical state of affairs could be saying the identical factor.

“That weekend was the worst a footballer might have when it comes to lacking out on the England squad on the Friday, then getting relegated on Sunday. It was a really robust weekend, however I am stood right here match, wholesome and able to go once more for an additional season.

“Even when I would gone to the World Cup, I’d’ve been prepared. Over time, contact wooden, I have been fortunate with accidents. I take care of myself nicely, try to do the suitable issues, attempt to get the suitable steadiness of coaching after which having my time with my household.”

‘So long as we get promoted, I do not care how we do it’

Bowen might have been a constant performer on the high degree for a few years now, however he is no stranger to the division he is about to play in.

Earlier than the transfer to West Ham, he spent two-and-a-half seasons within the Championship with Hull, scoring 52 targets and offering 12 assists in 117 video games.

“I’ve skilled the Championship and it is such a aggressive league. I bear in mind after I was at Hull, we have been doing nicely within the league and also you’d go to a facet backside of the league they usually flip you over. It is one of many hardest leagues to get out of as a result of it is so demanding, so bodily.

“What we have to do as a workforce is have that successful mentality, understanding what it takes to win video games. Now we have a supervisor who’s been with the squad for practically a yr, who understands the membership, who understands the followers and the way it works.

“We have got an actual togetherness as a gaggle and that is an necessary factor. We have had plenty of change within the final two or three years, with managers and gamers, which might occur, however sticking with the supervisor we had from final season will actually stand us in good stead.”

Bowen is not set on successful the league or going up routinely. Simply going straight again up, by any means, will do.

“The worst factor I feel you are able to do as a membership is try to stroll into this league and suppose ‘we are the largest facet, we will go straight up’. It does not occur like that. It is not as simple and simply turning up and considering ‘we’re higher, we will win’. That is nowhere close to the case.

“You are enjoying Saturday-Tuesday, you are not going to play at your finest each single week and you need to win in numerous sorts of how. You simply should go once more, go once more, go once more and that is obtained to be the mindset of us as a gaggle.

“In fact we need to be dominant and assert our dominance on this league, however we have now to earn the suitable to do this as nicely. Now we have to respect the league we’re coming into as a result of we have seen many sides suppose they will bounce again immediately and it isn’t occurred that approach.

“I would love to take a seat right here in a yr’s time and say we have received the league, however so long as we’re within the Premier League, I could not care how we do it.”

‘My ambition is to get West Ham again to the PL – I am not considering past that’

Bowen’s contract has 4 years left to run, however The Athletic have reported a launch clause has been inserted into the deal, which is able to kick in subsequent summer time, if West Ham fail to seal an instantaneous return to the Premier League.

Conversely, he’ll reportedly obtain a big bonus if the Hammers do win promotion.

For now, he’s wanting no additional than the season forward.

“You by no means know what is going on to occur in soccer, however my dream, my ambition, is to get this membership again to the Premier League,” provides Bowen.

“If you begin wanting years upfront, you are not centered on what you need to do that season. I’ve made my choice to remain as a result of I am centered on the now. I am dwelling within the current, not years to come back.

“In my head, we will make this occur. If that does not occur, you reassess it in a yr’s time.”

West Ham’s first 5 Championship video games

• August 16: Burnley (A) – Reside on Sky Sports activities
• August 22: Charlton (H)
• August 29: Watford (A)
• September 1: Wolves (H)
• September 5: Derby (H)

What number of of my EFL workforce’s fixtures shall be stay on Sky?

Each Championship, League One and League Two workforce shall be featured stay on Sky greater than 20 instances within the 2026/27 season.

The EFL is on the coronary heart of Sky Sports activities+ protection and can see over 1,000 video games from 1,891 matches throughout the EFL, Carabao Cup and EFL Trophy broadcast stay all through the season.