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West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen has spoken about his decision to remain at the London Stadium despite the club’s painful drop to the Championship. The 29-year-old forward, who had been strongly linked with a move away to continue playing in the top flight, said his strong bond with the Hammers made the decision straightforward.

Loyalty over top-flight security

When West Ham United’s 15-year run in the Premier League ended in dramatic fashion last May, the general expectation was that Bowen would be among the first to leave. After producing nine goals and 11 assists in a campaign in which he started every league match, the Hammers skipper was widely regarded as too good for the second tier.

But the England international surprised many by committing his future to the club, signing a revised contract that will keep him at the London Stadium until 2030.

“I was asked about my future after we were relegated and it was about making the right decision for myself,” the 29-year-old said in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports.

“I thought of it as what’s going to be the biggest ‘what if?’ when I retire? There are going to be ‘what ifs’ whatever you do, but it was going to be that one that would keep nagging at me for years and years. I knew I had to give it a go to get this club back into the Premier League. That was the overriding factor.”

The bond with the Hammers

In spite of interest from other clubs, Bowen held an important meeting with West Ham’s biggest shareholder, Daniel Kretinsky, in Prague during the summer break. The forward made it clear that he did not need any elaborate pitch to persuade him to remain in East London.

Looking back on that discussion and his connection with the club, Bowen said: “No one needs to sell the club to me. It was just an honest conversation about what we want to do as a club moving forward.”

He also made it clear that his family ties - his wife Dani Dyer and father-in-law Danny Dyer are well-known West Ham supporters - did not shape his professional decision, even though their affection for the club is widely known. He said: “They are never going to be in my ear saying ‘I think you should stay or I think you should go’.”

The challenge of the Championship

As West Ham get ready for a demanding 46-match season, Bowen is one of the few members of the squad with substantial Championship experience. Having scored 52 goals in the division for Hull City earlier in his career, he knows the Hammers cannot depend only on their name to win promotion.

“I’ve experienced the Championship and it’s such a competitive league. I remember when I was at Hull, we were doing well in the league and you’d go to a side bottom of the league and they turn you over. It’s one of the toughest leagues to get out of because it’s so demanding, so physical. What we need to do as a team is have that winning mentality, understanding what it takes to win games,” Bowen said.

England heartbreak and World Cup exclusion

The timing of West Ham’s relegation made matters especially harsh for Bowen, as it came alongside his omission from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the 2026 World Cup. Although he had been a regular under Tuchel during the qualifying phase and in the build-up to the tournament, Bowen was left out when the final squad was named on May 22.

“Don’t get me wrong, it was difficult. OK, we got relegated, but as an individual, I felt like I contributed well. We didn’t do well and maybe that went against me,” Bowen admitted. “It was difficult to watch to begin with because I felt like I deserved to be there. Anyone in the same situation would be saying the same thing. That weekend was the worst a footballer could have in terms of missing out on the England squad on the Friday, then getting relegated on Sunday.”