AliousWest Ham Clear £14m+ Wage Burden Ahead of Summer Shake-Up as Exit List Confirmed
West Ham United are poised to save over £14 million in wages following confirmation that several high-earning first-team players will depart the club at the end of the season, sources have informed *Football Insider*. This move comes as part of a sweeping squad overhaul planned in preparation for the 2025 summer transfer window, aimed at revamping the team after a lacklustre campaign.
The club officially announced that Lukasz Fabianski, Aaron Cresswell, Vladimir Coufal, and Danny Ings will exit the London Stadium when their contracts run out on June 30. Head coach Graham Potter confirmed the decision was made public early to give fans a chance to bid farewell to the departing players during West Ham’s final home fixture against Nottingham Forest on May 18.
Veteran forward Michail Antonio is also in the final months of his contract, but a verdict on his future has yet to be reached. The 35-year-old fan favourite has not featured since suffering a serious leg injury in a December car accident.
Among the departing names, Danny Ings stands out as the highest earner. The underperforming striker is believed to be on a £125,000 weekly salary after joining from Aston Villa in January 2023. In 69 appearances, he has contributed just five goals and five assists.
Goalkeeper Fabianski, turning 40 last month, has played 215 times for West Ham and earns around £65,000 per week. Cresswell, West Ham’s longest-serving player with 367 appearances across 11 years, is on £50,000 weekly. Right-back Vladimir Coufal, who has seen reduced game time this season due to Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s emergence, is on £35,000 a week.
The combined wage reduction from these exits is estimated at £14.3 million, freeing up vital resources as West Ham gear up for a fresh wave of signings.
One key area of focus is between the posts. *Football Insider* reported that West Ham are eyeing a move for Aaron Ramsdale, who is seen as a significant upgrade on both Alphonse Areola and the outgoing Fabianski. Ramsdale, currently with Southampton and reportedly available due to a relegation release clause, is attracting interest from multiple top-flight clubs.
As the Hammers look to bounce back from a difficult campaign—conceding 59 goals across 36 matches and sitting 15th in the table—the upcoming window is shaping up to be pivotal. With a lighter wage bill and room for reinforcements, West Ham are preparing for a significant summer rebuild.
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