Freddie Potts says this has been the best pre-season of his career to date and he is looking forward to playing a key role for West Ham United in the 2025-26 season.  

The 21-year-old academy graduate spent the past two seasons on loan at Wycombe Wanderers and Portsmouth, gaining valuable experience in League One and the Championship. This summer, he returned to West Ham United and got a regular chance to play against Liverpool.  

Freddie Potts played in the second half of a 3-1 win over Grasshoppers Zurich, then came on as a substitute against Manchester United in New Jersey. He then started in Chicago against Everton, Atlanta against Bournemouth, and Lille at the London Stadium.  

After his side concluded pre-season with a penalty shootout victory over Ligue 1 side Lille, Freddie Potts reflected on his progress in a short space of time and said he can't wait to showcase his quality in the big matches in the coming weeks and months.  

Freddie Potts said: “This has probably been the most special pre-season I’ve ever had in terms of the opportunities and playing time I’ve had. I’ve dreamed of getting into the West Ham first team since I was a kid, and being with this team is obviously what I’ve been aiming for my whole life. It’s definitely a time I’ll never forget, but I’m looking forward to learning and moving forward. We’re feeling really good as a team, and wins like today only make that feeling even better.”  

"There's a lot to like about our pre-season performances and results this season. We had a tough test against Lille. Even though they played in the Champions League last year, we won the game on penalties, which was great for me and the team."  

While Freddie Potts hopes to make his Premier League debut away to Sunderland next weekend, he is already looking forward to taking his game to new heights against the very best in the game this coming season.  

Alongside international stars Lucas Paqueta, James Ward-Prowse and Tomas Soucek in West Ham's midfield, the player also spoke about how working with captain Jarrod Bowen has broadened his horizons in training day-to-day.  

Freddie Potts added: "I'm enjoying pre-season, but I obviously still have a lot to learn. The most important thing for me is to learn from players who are playing at the highest level, and I'm really enjoying that experience. I really value this opportunity to improve myself. I'll give my all to whichever team I end up in. But competing with the players here is no easy task, and I'm eager to prove myself and become a key member of the team this season."  

"Jarrod Bowen is not only an outstanding role model, but a role model for all of us his age. It has been an honor to learn from him both on and off the court, and it has been a true pleasure to play with him."