Ex West Ham bagsman with 83 club goals remains free agent after Championship transfer collapse

Ex West Ham striker Michail Antonio remains a free agent in search of a new club after a proposed transfer to Leicester City has fallen through with the latest injury setback.

The 35-year-old had been training with the Championship club and earned the praise of head coach Marti Cifuentes for his efforts with the squad. Antonio had been in talks over a short-term contract to help the Foxes but that has collapsed with a muscle injury set to sideline the forward for a number of weeks.

The Hammers confirmed that Antonio had been released by the club at the start of August last year. The versatile forward had not made an appearance for the first team since being involved in a serious car crash in December 2024.

Michail Antonio sees Leicester City free transfer collapse

At the time, West Ham said that they remained in negotiations with the player over a different role at the club but Antonio eventually left to pursue a return to football. It had been claimed that the striker was offered a ‘pay as you play’ deal to remain at the London Stadium - similar to the one eventually signed by ex Newcastle United man Callum Wilson.

Speaking after Leicester City beat West Brom 2-1 on Monday, Cifuentes said: “Michail Antonio, unfortunately he had a small setback during the training with us and that means unfortunately we won't proceed in the process we started.

“It's a pity because he's a great guy, a great professional. He's shown really good things, not only from a football perspective but from a personal perspective in the weeks he has been with us. But that changes the plan.”

West Ham invest in new forwards as Callum Wilson linked with exit

It’s been a busy week for the striking position at West Ham. The club confirmed the signings of Taty Castellanos from Lazio and Pablo from Gil Vicente, both of whom featured in the 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night.

Wilson was excluded from the matchday squad last night amid reports that he could quit West Ham just half a season after signing in the summer. Speaking ahead of facing Forest, the Hammers boss said: “Me and Callum we had a lot of conversations, just 10 minutes ago we were speaking about that situation.

“Two strikers have joined, correct. I personally decided these strikers have joined. Callum is a very experienced man, he’s been in the game for so much time, he knows that his position has changed.

“We were honest with each other. Yes, your position has changed, but you are still a player for the club and we still maybe need him and he should help us cause he joined us.”

In other news, 'It's heart-breaking' - Rob Green gives Nuno Espirito Santo sack verdict as West Ham in deep trouble.