West Ham United are facing growing regret over their decision to let promising young striker Divin Mubama leave the club, with the academy graduate now flourishing elsewhere while the Hammers struggle for goals.
From London Stadium to International Stage
The east London club currently find themselves in the Premier League's bottom three, despite recent back-to-back wins under manager Nuno Espirito Santo. Their persistent struggle to find a consistent goalscoring number nine has often forced reliance on Jarrod Bowen's brilliance.
This situation contrasts sharply with Mubama's current trajectory. The 21-year-old, who departed West Ham when his contract expired in June 2024, has begun making significant strides in his development. After eleven years in West Ham's academy system, Mubama rejected a new deal, forcing the Hammers to accept a £2 million compensation fee from Manchester City.
England U21 Excellence and Championship Impact
Mubama's potential was on full display during the international break when he scored twice for England's Under-21s in their 4-0 victory over Slovakia. This impressive performance earned him the Man of the Match award and took his tally to five goals in five matches for Lee Carsley's side.
The young striker's club form has been equally promising during his loan spell at Championship high-flyers Stoke City. Mubama has scored five goals in fifteen appearances this season, including a hat-trick against Bristol City earlier this month, demonstrating the scoring prowess West Ham currently lack.
Former Teammates Recognise Early Potential
Current Stoke City teammate Aaron Cresswell, who also left West Ham as a free agent, recently reflected on his first impressions of Mubama when the striker trained with the first team aged just 17.
"I'll never forget when he first joined us," Cresswell recalled. "I think he must have been 17 at the time on a pre-season tour. I remember thinking, 'Gosh, who's this kid?'. He's enthusiastic, putting himself about. I remember he was coming up against Craig Dawson, who is a big centre-half and I remember him just absolutely flying into him and I thought, 'Yeah, he's got a bit about him'. And now look!"
Cresswell added that Mubama possesses "all the attributes to be a top striker" and described him as a "great lad" who is "humble and willing to work hard."
While questions remain about whether Mubama will eventually break into Manchester City's star-studded first team, his current development suggests he could have forced his way into Nuno Espirito Santo's plans at West Ham by next season. Instead, the club that developed him must watch from afar as their former prospect continues his promising ascent.
