West Ham forward Michail Antonio made his long-awaited return to football with Jamaica on Tuesday. The 35-year-old hasn’t featured for the Hammers since early December 2024 after being involved in a devastating car crash midway through the campaign. Now, the versatile forward has finally played in a match, while his contract situation at the London Stadium remains uncertain.
Teammate Maxwel Cornet, who shares a similar predicament this summer, reacted to Michail Antonio’s comeback in a heartfelt manner. Having spent the last year on two separate loans, where he made just 11 combined appearances, it is not surprising that the Irons are looking to transfer the winger on a permanent basis during the window.
Stat | Genoa | Southampton
Appearances | 7 | 4
Goals | 2 | 0
Assists | 1 | 0
Genoa has been linked with making Cornet’s loan deal permanent, although negotiations could be complicated by his wage demands [Repubblica, 10 June]. Nevertheless, the ex-Burnley man is clearly supportive of Michail Antonio, sharing an emotional message after the striker’s return to action with Jamaica. On his Instagram story (17 June), he expressed: “Less than one year and he is back on the pitch. The beast is not just a nickname, big bro. More to come.”
While there’s joy among the Hammers’ community for Michail Antonio’s return after such a long absence, some supporters are frustrated by his hesitation to sign a new deal with the club. This scenario could lead the former Nottingham Forest player to depart after ten years in claret and blue, once he’s back in first-team action following a lengthy recovery.
It will undoubtedly be fascinating to see what the future holds for the Jamaican player under Graham Potter’s leadership. With the team’s aims and the future obstacles in mind, the player’s role will be essential as the club attempts to make progress in the league. Whether he will stay with West Ham or look for other possibilities will become clear in the upcoming months.
