For both fringe and youth squad members alike, loan moves offer an opportunity to gain valuable minutes, experience, and the chance for players to prove themselves. Whether that comes in lower leagues or with clubs seeking reinforcements, these spells can be crucial for players looking to find form and consistency.
As the Premier League season continues and West Ham United fights to stay out of relegation, several Hammers are out on loan. Some have impressed in their new environments, while others have faced roadblocks in their search for regular minutes. Here is a look at how West Ham’s current loanees are getting on.
George Earthy
George Earthy went out on loan to Bristol City on January 9th, 2026. Making it his second loan spell with the club, where he won Bristol City's young player of the year award in 2025. But it seems Earthy hasn't hit the ground running quite like he was able to last year. After being left out of the squad in a recent match against Wrexham, Bristol City manager Gerhard Struber openly spoke about leaving him out. Stating it's due to "competition in the midfield" and team selection, yet Struber still wants him to be patient. With roughly three months left in the Championship season, there is plenty of time for Earthy to reinvigorate himself into the squad and end the season strong.
It's also fair to mention that Earthy didn't really get much of a pre-season, sustaining an ankle ligament injury in training in July 2025, followed by a hamstring injury that kept him out of first-team contention for roughly two months. He isn't at 100%, which is likely impacting his level of play and fitness as well. There is also the discussion of him being 21 years old and having had four different managers in the past year, exposing him to multiple different tactical identities and environments. Which can be great for development, but it can also become completely destabilizing if you're a young player without consistent minutes and no clear role defined for yourself.
Ultimately, the future is promising for Earthy. He is a young talent, but it may take him a little longer than most fans expect to be ready for the Premier League, and the fact that he has been lost behind other choices in Bristol City's midfield tells us he may not be as equipped right now for the Championship either.
Edson Alvarez
Edson Alvarez went out on loan with a buy-option clause to Fenerbahce in August of 2025, at the time under manager Jose Mourinho, who was later sacked and replaced by Domenico Tedesco. He had been playing pretty well overall, becoming a regular starter in both league and Europa matches. Yet fortune didn't last long, as he took a heavy knock to his ankle in December 2025, in a match against Galatasaray. At first it didn't seem too severe, but Alvarez recently this month had surgery on his ankle and is expected to be out for the rest of the season.
It's interesting to see how this affects Fenerbahce's chances of pulling the trigger on the buy-option clause in Alvarez's contract; the fee figures at around €22 million + €2 million from the original loan fee. We know Tedesco didn't bring Alvarez in, but he did play him regularly before his injury. At 28 years old now, and seemingly a finished product, Fenerbahce will have to ponder if this is the best move for them and manager Domenico Tedesco, who may have midfield targets of his own he would like to bring in over the summer.
If not, maybe there is a place for Alvarez under Nuno at West Ham? He brings a solidified defensive anchor to the midfield, something that could potentially benefit Nuno's tactics. But that's only hypothetical, and is only if Fenerbahce don't trigger the buy option, which in my opinion, looks unlikely to happen due to his recent injury and age.
Callum Marshall
Callum Marshall went out on loan to German second-tier side VfL Bochum in early January 2026. The club was looking for him to get regular starter minutes and build experience, as he was getting little to no opportunities under Nuno. Now, with Pablo out indefinitely for the Hammers, it seems Marshall has paved his way into the German side's starting 11.
Since joining VfL Bochum and scoring on his debut match, Marshall has failed to score since but has still been able to make an impact on the squad. It seems VfL Bochum manager, Uwe Rösler, was bringing him on gradually to build his fitness and familiarity with the squad. As Marshall now has started the last two matches and looks to remain in the starting 11 for the German side. Which bodes well for the young player, as he gets consistent senior minutes in a new league and looks to make a name for himself.
Marshalls' last loan spell to Huddersfield Town in League One went really well, earning him the club's player of the year award for the 2024-2025 season. If he can recreate that form again with Vfl Bochum, then there is a good chance he can cement a place for himself in the West Ham squad come next season or potentially a future loan move to a more competitive league.
Kaelan Casey
Kaelan Casey originally went out on loan to Swansea City at the beginning of the season. Making eight league appearances for the Championship side before being recalled and loaned out to Leyton Orient in January 2026. The idea behind the change was to get Casey more regular minutes, as he wasn't getting them at Swansea City.
Now at Leyton Orient, Casey has begun to make a name for himself and solidify himself in the starting 11, playing as the right center back. During a recent match against Northampton Town, it was recorded that Casey had 21 clearances and 10 aerial duels won, an unexpectedly high number for a League One player. Which goes to show that the switch in teams and leagues has gone well for Casey, providing the right environment for him to succeed and improve.
Hopefully, Casey is able to continue this run of form and finish the season strong. It's worth mentioning that Jean-Clair Todibo shouted him out as one to watch for and see develop on the West Ham United YouTube channel during the US tour this past preseason. If Casey has a strong finish and carries that momentum into this coming offseason, he can potentially turn Nuno's head or position himself for a better loan move the following season.
James Ward-Prowse
Since Nuno came to West Ham United in September 2025, it marked the end of James Ward-Prowse's time in East London. Nuno's lack of interest in using Ward-Prowse seems to stem from his time at Nottingham Forrest, when Ward-Prowse was on loan there, and the feelings haven't changed as the club looks to sell him in the next available window.
For the time being, Ward-Prowse has been loaned out to one of our relegation dog fight rivals in Burnley. Though he isn't a regular starter there, he has started in a recent match against Brentford. Overall, he has contributed and made an impact in the squad, registering an assist for the equalizer in a match against Chelsea.
With all the opinions on James Ward-Prowse's play, especially under Graham Potter, with many well-deserved takes and thoughts. Even though all the disdain from managers, like Nuno and Lopetegui. You cannot deny that Ward-Prowse isn't going down without a fight and is still trying to prove he belongs in the Premier League and at this level, and it also doesn't change the fact that at the end of the season, he will be a West Ham Player - now what happens after that? The club will likely look to sell him in the summer and cut its losses.
Max Cornet
Max Cornet went back on loan to Genoa at the beginning of this season, after going on loan to Genoa in the second half of the 2024-2025 season, which followed a poor loan spell at Southampton.
This season, Cornet made an impact at first, scoring two goals early in the season for the club. But has since been met with a lot of injury and fitness issues. Since joining the Italian side, he has only made 10 appearances across all competitions and hasn't played in a match since November 2025.
What is interesting though, is that it seems for the past two years Cornet has been annexed by the club and the managers in charge. There hasn't bee a team willing to buy Cornet so his contract will most likely be terminated at season's end and let go on a free.
Niclas Fullkrug
Since joining West Ham in 2024, West Ham have seen a player who has lacked in production, incurred an overabundance of injuries, and whose price tag still haunts ownership and fans alike. It seems that this will trail Fullkrug to Italy, where he went on loan to AC Milan early in the January 2026 transfer window.
Since joining the Italian side, Fullkrug has scored once and suffered a fractured toe. He has played in 10 matches across all competitions and is being used as a late sub/ backup role. It has been reported by a German journalist, Strasser, who told Milan News that he doesn't believe Milan will trigger the buy-option clause in Fulkrug's contract. It seems he has not proved himself to manager Massimiliano Allegri, who hasn't seen Fulkrug as the focal point of Milan's attack.
What is next in store for Niclas Fullkrug? He will most likely be heading back to East London this offseason, where he can be sold for pennies on the dollar or loaned out again to a willing participant. One thing is for sure he no longer has a place on Nuno's squad.
Mason Terry
With all the issues and turmoil over West Ham's keepers this season, it's good to know we have a young keeper making a name for himself. Mason Terry was loaned out to Braintree Town F.C. in the National League (fifth tier of English football) at the beginning of the season, where he has stood out and made a big impact for the club.
Since joining, Terry has played in 28 matches, logging eight clean sheets across all competitions. Helping them climb out of the relegation zone and winning multiple 'Man of the Match' awards along the way. Terry is gaining valuable minutes, which is crucial for keeper development, and his clean sheet numbers don't just suggest he's played well but has dominated in goal.
Hopefully, the young keeper can continue to impress and build upon his success, then use that momentum to turn heads at West Ham this offseason or move up the ladder in a loan move to a higher league. Keepers take time, though, and in my opinion, a loan move to a better league is what will be next for Terry.
Krisztan Hegyi
Krisztan Hegyi went out on loan to MTK Budapest on January 1st, 2026, and hasn't really done much since. He started one league match and conceded a goal, but it seems to be the second choice behind keeper Patrik Demjén.
This isn't great news for the young keeper, who is looking for consistent minutes and experience to make a name for himself. But time will tell, as there is more football left to be played this season, and things can change and happen fast in this sport, so we will see.
Michael Forbes
Michael Forbes joined Northampton Town F.C. on loan over the summer transfer window of 2025. Reuniting him with former West Ham player and coach (under David Moyes), Kevin Nolan.
The familiarity has paid off: Forbes is now a regular starter and has even contributed a couple of goals and an assist from the center-back position. The trust Nolan has in Forbes is clear, and hopefully, the young defender can continue to improve and excel under him.
This experience and usage are great for where Forbes is in his career, after dealing with injuries in his previous two loans to Bristol and Colchester United. He can gain the confidence he needs to push for a future role at West Ham or step into higher leagues on loan.
Junior Robinson
Robinson started the season on a season-long loan at Livingston, where he only made one substitute appearance and was recalled in January due to a lack of game time. He was then loaned out again, now to Boreham Wood in the National League.
Since joining Boreham Wood, Robinson has played in three matches and logged 117 minutes total. Which is an improvement from his previous loan, but still not good enough to gain the experience needed for him to succeed.
Overall, there are several positives to take from West Ham’s loan players this season. Mason Terry, Michael Forbes, and Kaelan Casey have all impressed out on loan and will look to build on that progress heading into the summer.
Others, such as James Ward-Prowse, Niclas Füllkrug, and possibly Edson Álvarez and Maxwel Cornet, appear likely to move on as the club reshapes the squad.
For players like Callum Marshall, George Earthy, Junior Robinson, and Krisztián Hegyi, the remainder of the season and the coming summer will be crucial in determining their next steps and whether they can push closer to the West Ham first team.