West Ham's Bowen stays after Prague talks with owner Kretinsky

West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen will remain at the club next season despite their relegation from the Premier League. The 29-year-old had attracted interest from several top-flight English clubs but has committed to playing in the Championship.

Bowen's decision to stay follows a trip to Prague to meet with West Ham owner Daniel Kretinsky and Jiri Svarc. The forward said the ambition they demonstrated regarding the club's future direction was a major factor in his choice.

"The main motivation for me is staying and bringing this club back into the Premier League where we belong," Bowen said. "We flew out to Prague in the Czech Republic to meet with Daniel and Jiri. The ambition that I got from them in terms of the direction the club wants to move in interested me a lot."

West Ham are preparing for their first season in the Championship since 2012, and the drop in division is already impacting the squad. Midfielder Mateus Fernandes has left for Tottenham Hotspur in an £85m move, while winger Crysencio Summerville is wanted by Manchester United.

Retaining Bowen provides the club with significant continuity. He joined from Hull City for £22m in January 2020 and signed a seven-year contract extension in October 2023, keeping him at the club until 2030. He made 42 appearances last season, scoring 11 goals and providing 12 assists.

Bowen has scored 85 goals and provided 63 assists in 280 appearances for West Ham overall. He scored the winning goal in the 2023 Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina, securing the club's first major trophy in 43 years. At international level, he has 22 caps and one goal for England, though he was left out of Thomas Tuchel's squad for the 2026 World Cup.

The relegation still stings for the squad, but the focus is now on the rebuild. "It hurt everyone and it should hurt everyone. It was such a disappointing thing but it doesn't last forever," Bowen said.

West Ham will open their Championship campaign away at fellow relegated side Burnley at Turf Moor on 16 August. The club will rely heavily on its retained captain and a loyal fanbase, with 50,000 season ticket holders already secured for the second tier.

"There is going to be a different pressure on us now," Bowen said. "The most important thing is a desire, an attitude and a winning mentality. We're looking forward to the first game already."