Key Points

• West Ham United secured a convincing 5-0 pre-season victory over League One side Stevenage at Broadhall Way on Wednesday, 22 July 2026.
• Midfielder James Ward-Prowse scored the opening goal in the 13th minute after following up his own blocked attempt, marking his return to the side after spending the second half of last season on loan at Burnley.
• Argentine forward Taty Castellanos doubled the lead in the 25th minute following a through-ball from captain Jarrod Bowen.
• Head coach Nuno Espírito Santo made ten squad changes at half-time, giving several Academy of Football graduates extensive pre-season minutes.
• Midfielder Lewis Orford added a third goal in the 68th minute with a first-time curling shot from the edge of the penalty area.
• Young forward Josh Ajala diverted a Kaelan Casey volley into the net in the 77th minute to make it 4-0.
• Summer signing Jett Murphy scored his first goal for West Ham in the 90th minute to complete the five-goal victory.

West Ham United (East London Times) July 24, 2026 –As reported by Malik Ouzia of Standard Sport, West Ham United commenced their pre-season campaign in emphatic fashion with a 5-0 victory over Stevenage at Broadhall Way on Wednesday evening. Midfielder James Ward-Prowse, whose future at the London Stadium appeared uncertain following a loan spell at Burnley in the second half of last season, opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Ward-Prowse initiated a team move inside his own half before advancing into the penalty area to convert a rebound after his initial effort from Pablo Felipe’s cross was parried by Stevenage goalkeeper Filip Marschall.

The visitors extended their advantage in the 25th minute when defender Maximilian Kilman won possession deep in his own half and found Jarrod Bowen.

The West Ham captain turned and released Taty Castellanos with a precise through-ball, enabling the Argentine striker to slot a low shot past Marschall inside the far post.

As detailed by the official West Ham United FC match report, head coach Nuno Espírito Santo made ten substitutions at the interval, retaining only defender Airidas Golambeckis from the starting eleven alongside goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and winger Maxwel Cornet.

Despite a brief period of pressure from Stevenage early in the second half, during which Areola produced saves to deny Josh Magennis, Terry Taylor, and Jamie Reid, West Ham’s youthful lineup extended the lead.

In the 68th minute, Lewis Orford collected a pass from Ryan Battrum near the left edge of the area and curled a first-time strike into the top corner.

Nine minutes later, Maxwel Cornet’s corner was kept alive inside the penalty area, where Kaelan Casey’s volley took a deflection off Josh Ajala before settling in the net. Summer signing Jett Murphy completed the scoring in the final minute of normal time, tapping home from close range to seal the 5-0 victory.

How did James Ward-Prowse perform on his return to the West Ham lineup?

As noted by Malik Ouzia of Standard Sport, James Ward-Prowse produced an influential 45-minute display that demonstrated his tactical discipline and technical value.

Operating in central midfield, the 31-year-old was central to West Ham’s build-up play, starting the move for his own goal from deep within his own half.

Beyond his offensive contribution, Ouzia highlighted Ward-Prowse’s defensive diligence, pointing to vital interventions inside his own penalty area alongside left-back Ollie Scarles during Stevenage’s brief spells of first-half pressure.

What was Taty Castellanos’ contribution to the attack?

As reported by ReadWestHam, forward Taty Castellanos delivered a sharp frontline performance, capitalizing on his starting role to score West Ham’s second goal. Castellanos’ movement created constant problems for the Stevenage defensive line, culminating in his 25th-minute goal off Bowen’s pass.

The report observed that Castellanos’ display served as a strong signal of his capability to lead the attack heading into the new season, amidst continued transfer interest from Premier League side Everton.

How did the academy graduates fare after Nuno Espírito Santo made ten changes?

As stated by ReadWestHam, the second-half introduction of West Ham’s young players provided Nuno Espírito Santo with valuable squad depth insights. Midfielder Lewis Orford impressed with his composure and technical execution, capped by his long-range goal in the 68th minute.

Defensive duo Airidas Golambeckis and Young Hammer of the Year Ezra Mayers were praised for key blocks that maintained the clean sheet when Stevenage pressed early in the half. Further attacking contributions came from Josh Ajala, who deflected home the fourth goal, and Jett Murphy, who converted the fifth goal in the 90th minute.

What is the background to West Ham United’s pre-season preparations?

West Ham United entered the pre-season fixture against Stevenage following a 1-1 draw against Southend United in their opening public friendly of the summer.

Head coach Nuno Espírito Santo has used the early stages of the summer schedule to evaluate returning loanees, new signings, and emerging prospects from the club’s youth system.

The match at Broadhall Way allowed senior figures such as captain Jarrod Bowen, midfielder James Ward-Prowse, and defender Maximilian Kilman to build match fitness alongside youth prospects.

How could these performances impact West Ham’s squad decisions for the upcoming season?

The performances against Stevenage are likely to influence Nuno Espírito Santo’s squad hierarchy and transfer strategy ahead of the competitive campaign. James Ward-Prowse’s goalscoring return and defensive work rate provide a strong case for his retention in central midfield following his mid-season loan to Burnley. Taty Castellanos’ goal and sharp movement reinforce his role in the central striking position, particularly as the club considers its options amidst external transfer interest.

Furthermore, the goalscoring contributions and defensive resilience demonstrated by academy graduates Lewis Orford, Ezra Mayers, Airidas Golambeckis, Josh Ajala, and Jett Murphy offer the coaching staff genuine depth options as they finalize their first-team squad structure.