West Ham have announced that striker Michail Antonio is departing the club after his contract expired.
The 35-year-old forward, who survived a severe car accident last December, held discussions with the East London club about extending his stay.
Instagram | The Jamaican posted clips on Instagram of his recovery from the horror crash
He also featured for West Ham’s under-21 team against Boreham Wood last month, finding the net twice in that friendly encounter.
Antonio’s tenure at West Ham spanned a decade after arriving from Nottingham Forest in September 2015 for £8million.
The forward etched his name in club history by becoming their all-time leading scorer in the Premier League era.
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Reuters | Michail Antonio scored 68 goals for the Hammers making him their record Premier League goalscorer
His 83 goals across 323 matches in all competitions included a memorable strike in the Hammers’ farewell match at Upton Park against Manchester United.
The versatile attacker earned Hammer of the Year honours in 2017 and played a crucial part in securing the club’s first major trophy in 43 years during their 2023 Europa Conference League victory in Prague.
The December accident left Antonio with a fractured leg, requiring him to relearn walking.
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Speaking on the Beast Mode On Podcast with Adebayo Akinfenwa, the striker revealed he has no recollection of the incident.
“What’s crazy about it, everybody in the world experienced that crash more than me,” Antonio said. “Even though I was in it, I didn’t live it because I don’t remember anything about it.”
He added: “I don’t remember the crash, I don’t remember being in the hospital, I don’t remember going in for the operation, I don’t remember coming out of the operation.
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YouTube | The West Ham legend revealed on the Beast Mode On Podcast he can’t remember anything around the crash
“What I’ve learnt from the car crash is football’s important, but your health is more important.”
The East London outfit has pledged to maintain their support for Antonio’s rehabilitation process.
The club will provide ongoing access to their training grounds, medical facilities and care services as required.
West Ham revealed that conversations are underway regarding Antonio’s potential future with the organisation in a different role, but the Jamaican intenrational has insisted he would like to revive his playing career.
The Hammers acknowledged Antonio will remain a cherished figure in their 130-year history, with further tributes planned across club platforms in the coming weeks.