Winston Reid has bought his career with the Hammers to an end today after 11 years at the club.
This evening the club confirmed it has reached an agreement with Reid for the New Zealand international to depart and allow him to pursue first-team football elsewhere.
The 33-year-old has been a loyal and dependable servant ever since signing in the summer of 2010, and paid tribute to his time in east London and his relationship with the Claret and Blue Army upon his departure.
“I have a lot of respect for the Club, and we’ve found an agreement that’s good for everyone involved,” Reid told West Ham TV.
“I came here in 2010 and have just enjoyed so much of playing for the Club. It’s been a special time.
“I’ve always felt that the fans have supported me, and I’ve always tried to give my best for them. At the end of the day, when you’re a footballer, that’s what you enjoy the most, going out there and playing in front of a lot of fans.
“Over the years, that’s also what I’ve enjoyed the most: playing for your fans, for your teammates, for your coaches and for your family.
“I just want to say ‘thank you’ and I wish you all the best for the future.”
Reid also took the opportunity to praise the direction the Club is moving in, building on a sixth-placed finish and a Club-record points tally in the Premier League last term and currently enjoying its first-ever UEFA Europa League group-stage campaign.
“You get older and you get wiser, but in general, not just myself, but also the Club, are moving forward in a good direction,” Reid smiled.
“As long as, as a player, you try and do your best and give everything you can, the fans here have always appreciated it.
“I’ve always appreciated playing here and giving my all for the Club, and I’ll always remember it fondly.”
Signed as a fresh-faced 23-year-old from Midtjylland in Denmark in August 2010 after impressing at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Reid understandably took a little time to settle into the rigours of English football.
He departs, however, with 222 first-team appearances at West Ham United – and, most memorably, the historic final goal at Boleyn Ground in the 3-2 win over Manchester United in May 2016 – to his name.
The uncompromising centre-back impressed in at the heart of the Irons side which secured promotion via the 2011/12 EFL Championship Play-Offs, and his excellent performances the following season saw him voted Hammer of the Year by West Ham United’s supporters as the Club finished tenth on its return to Premier League.
Over the following five seasons, the New Zealand international was a consistent and key component of the sides which re-established the Hammers’ in the Premier League, quickly becoming a popular figure among the Claret and Blue Army.
Crucial goals against London rivals Millwall (in February 2012) and Tottenham Hotspur (in October 2013) certainly helped in that regard, with the centre-back forging strong partnerships with the likes of James Tomkins, James Collins and Angelo Ogbonna over the seasons.
During the historic 2015/16 campaign – West Ham’s last at the Boleyn – the centre-back was outstanding, helping the Irons to unforgettable wins at Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City before ensuring the Hammers would end life in Upton Park on the highest of notes, as he headed in that historic winner against Manchester United in May 2016.
In the first season at London Stadium, Reid started the first game, a UEFA Europa League win over Domzale of Slovenia, before scoring a fine last-minute goal to secure a Premier League victory over Sunderland.
After suffering an unfortunate injury at Swansea City’s Liberty Stadium in March 2018, however, Reid’s determination shone through once more as he battled through a spell of rehabilitation to return to action.
The centre-back made two appearances for West Ham’s development squad in 2019/20 and continued his return to regular first-team football on loan at Major League Soccer side Sporting Kansas City during 2020, where Reid made ten appearances.
The 33-year-old then spent the latter half of last season on loan at Brentford, playing 12 times as the Bees secured promotion to the Premier League via the 2021 EFL Championship Play-off Final.
Claret and Hugh says: It is a sad end to Winston’s time at West Ham but not a huge surprise. He was left out of the Europa League squad of 25 and was one of only two players not to have their squad profile photo updated on the official website. Once one of our best central defenders he was no longer in David Moyes plans and no one came in for him over the summer despite a loan spell at Brentford. In reality, his reported £70,000 per week wages were a problem and West Ham continued to subsidise the majority of his wages during his loan spells in the MLS and the Championship. He broke into Sam Allardyce’s team during the 2011/12 season, which saw him score a memorable winner against Millwall and his season climaxed in a Championship Play-Off final victory over Blackpool at Wembley. When fit, Reid was an automatic pick under Allardyce, Bilic and, during his first spell in charge, David Moyes. That was until he suffered a serious knee injury in an unfortunate collision with Swansea City defender Mike van der Hoorn at the Liberty Stadium on 3 March 2018. He was never the same player again, unfortunately.
Good Luck Reidy!
Winston was an outstanding defender for us and a loyal servant to the club over the last decade. A cruel injury has ended his career with us but he leaves us with some great memories, not least that tremendous late winner in our last game at UP. thanks Winston and good luck for the future.