The Hammers have picked up only three points from their opening five Premier League games.

The east London club said they “believe that a change is necessary in order to help improve the team’s position in the Premier League as soon as possible”.

They added: “Results and performances over the course of the second half of last season and the start of the 2025-26 season have not matched expectations.”

Potter, 50, had been preparing for Monday night’s game at Everton and fulfilled his media duties on Friday.

After last Saturday’s home defeat by Crystal Palace, BBC Sport reported the club were considering managerial alternatives.

Nuno Espirito Santo, recently sacked by Nottingham Forest, is understood to be an early favourite for the job.

Potter took charge of 25 matches since being appointed in January – winning just six times – while they finished last season in 14th place in the league.

“The board would like to thank Graham and his coaching staff for their hard work during their time with the Hammers and wish them every success for the future,” the club added.

“The process of appointing a replacement is under way. The club will be making no further comment at this time.”

The Ghanaian midfielder played a crucial role at the Emirates Stadium, helping his side secure a vital three points. Speaking in his post-match press conference, Potter was full of admiration for Kudus’ impact and work ethic.

“He [Mohammed Kudus] was really good. I think every day, he is a bit of an example. Every day in training, he’s been really, really good. His effort and application have been top,” Potter said.

“Sometimes when the team isn’t functioning as well as you would like, the individuals within it don’t look as good as they can be.

“He’s actually been brilliant, and I think he got his reward today because his performance was fantastic,” he added.

Kudus was a constant menace for Arsenal, ending the game as the most fouled player. He also played a key role in the dismissal of Gunners defender Miles Lewis-Skelly, who was sent off after bringing him down to prevent a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

With West Ham hovering just above the relegation zone, they will aim to build on this momentum when they take on struggling Leicester City on Thursday.

Potter takes the Hammers back to his old club on Monday (20:00 GMT) – his fourth Premier League game in charge since being appointed in January.

The former Brighton boss was dismissed by Chelsea in April 2023, less than seven months after replacing the sacked Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge in September 2022.

However, Potter said he had no “bad feeling” towards Chelsea and wanted to learn from the experience.

“You know in a football life you’re going to get ups and downs,” added the 49-year-old, who won 12 of his 31 games in charge of Chelsea in all competitions.

“I didn’t want to lose my job. But at the same time I look back now and maybe it’s the best thing that happened to me.

“Maybe the next 10-20 years is going to be great because of the experience I’ve had.

“I just look at it as a learning experience. I’ve got no bad feelings towards Chelsea, I’ve still got a lot of good relationships with the people there.

“But I’m just looking forward to the journey I’m on now with West Ham at this great club and getting that connection with the supporters, working with the team and building something that we’re really excited about and proud about here.”

Potter previously described his ill-fated stint at Chelsea as a “perfect storm”.

“I can only look back now and think, just like everybody in life, you can have good things and bad things,” he added.

“They make you better if you use them in the right way, and I’ve done that and so therefore I’m grateful for the experience.”

West Ham have four points from three games under Potter and came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa last Sunday.

The Hammers are 14th in the table on 27 points after 23 games, while Chelsea are in sixth spot.

West Ham attacker Mohammed Kudus has shared that the club’s new head coach, Graham Potter, “demands a lot” from his players.

Potter, who succeeded Julen Lopetegui after the latter’s dismissal following 20 games in charge, has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Hammers.

Kudus, speaking to SkySports after playing four matches under the new boss, said, “He demands a lot.”

“He’s only been here a short period of time but we can feel the energy as players.”

He went on to add, “For me, it was the same with the old manager; they expect a lot, and the challenging part is replicating what he wants me to do in his system. I know we don’t have time, but this stuff does take time.”

Despite the pressure for immediate results, Kudus acknowledged that the fans expect victories quickly.

“The fans expect points straight away and we have to get wins, but settling into a new way of playing takes time.”

Following a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday, West Ham will head to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in their next Premier League match on Monday.

Speaking ahead of West Ham’s Premier League showdown against Fulham at the London Olympic Stadium, with kick-off set for 19:00 GMT, Potter emphasized Kudus’ versatility and attacking qualities.

The former Chelsea and Brighton manager referenced Kudus’ performance in the recent FA Cup defeat to Aston Villa at Villa Park, acknowledging the need for adaptability in challenging circumstances.

“Sometimes in these situations [with several absences in one position], you have to be creative,” Potter said.

“You have to look at the attacking players you have and what their attributes are and use them accordingly so Mo’s [Kudus] got the capability to do that. It’s an option for us,” he added.

Kudus, now in his second season with the Hammers, has recorded three goals and an assist in 15 league appearances.

The dynamic attacker will look to inspire West Ham to return to winning ways against Fulham as the team seeks to build momentum in the Premier League campaign.

Lopetegui was sacked on Wednesday after a largely underwhelming tenure in charge, with the club sitting 14th in the Premier League and seven points clear of the bottom three.

The Hammers have now turned to Potter, who earlier in his career had spells at Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea, to inject some energy into their season.

Potter has signed a two-and-a-half year deal at London Stadium, although there are multiple reports of a six-month break clause if certain targets are not met.

“I am delighted to be here. It was important to me that I waited until a job came along that I felt was right for me, and equally that I was the right fit for the club I am joining. That is the feeling I have with West Ham United,” Potter told the club website.

And speaking to the media for the first time since his appointment on Thursday, Potter reiterated his pride and excitement in taking on the new challenge.

“Very excited, very proud,” he said. “Proud day to be head coach of this amazing club. Big tradition, big history, big expectation, big challenge.

“I’m really excited, it’s almost a bit like Christmas. Christmas for the adults, not the best of sleeps last night but just from the excitement. Really looking forward to meeting the players, meeting the supporters and just getting going.

“It’s been 20 months, 20 months of a good rest. In that time you speak to a lot of people. Lots of conversations with different owners, different directors.

“But it was important I pick the right option for me at the right time. As soon as I spoke to this club it just felt right for me.

“It’s an amazing club with a tremendous loyal fanbase that is passionate, knowledgeable, knows the football and knows what they want.

“When I hear [Pep] Guardiola say he’s got something to prove then we all have! It’s the reality of professional sport. I’m comfortable in my own skin, who I am and what I’ve done.

“But nobody is perfect. Life is about accepting set-backs and mistakes and moving forward. I think I’m a better coach for the experience, I feel well-rested.”

The move represents an important appointment for the 49-year-old, who has been patient in waiting for his next opportunity following a difficult seven months in charge of Chelsea.

“But it was important I pick the right option for me at the right time. As soon as I spoke to this club it just felt right for me.

“It’s an amazing club with a tremendous loyal fanbase that is passionate, knowledgeable, knows the football and knows what they want.

“When I hear [Pep] Guardiola say he’s got something to prove then we all have! It’s the reality of professional sport. I’m comfortable in my own skin, who I am and what I’ve done.

“But nobody is perfect. Life is about accepting set-backs and mistakes and moving forward. I think I’m a better coach for the experience, I feel well-rested.”

The move represents an important appointment for the 49-year-old, who has been patient in waiting for his next opportunity following a difficult seven months in charge of Chelsea.

Englishman and former Chelsea boss Potter, 49, was linked with the Three Lions job but did not confirm if he had been interviewed for the role.

German Tuchel, who Potter succeeded as the Chelsea manager in September 2022, was named the third non-British permanent boss of the England men’s team earlier this month.

“They’ve made a really good appointment for a coach that is obviously successful, and has won lots of things,” Potter told the BBC’s Planet Premier League podcast.

“It feels like that was the movement towards how we need a winning coach, a top coach that can help these top players. [For that] Thomas is a fantastic coach and a great appointment.”

Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham said “approximately 10 people” were interviewed, including “some English candidates”, before Tuchel was given the job.

Potter refused to state if he was one of those candidates, saying he has “had conversations with quite a few people”.

England Under-21 head coach Lee Carsley took over the senior role on an interim basis and was linked to getting the job permanently, while Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said he had received “no contact from the FA”.

Wolves boss Gary O’Neil, one of three English managers in the Premier League, said English football only had itself to blame for the FA’s decision to go for an overseas manager, while adding he had “no issues” with Tuchel’s appointment.

Potter guided Brighton to their then highest-ever Premier League finish of ninth during the 2021–22 season and was rated as one of the top English coaches before lasting less than seven months in charge of Chelsea.

No current English coach has won the Champions League, but Tuchel won Europe’s biggest club competition with Chelsea in 2021.

“Do I think that an English coach can win the World Cup or a major trophy? Yes, absolutely I do,” said Potter, who is yet to return to management after his Chelsea departure.

“You look at the previous Euros winners – the Spanish coach [Luis de la Fuente] I don’t think was a Champions League-winning coach?

“I don’t think the Argentinian coach [Lionel Scaloni, who won the World Cup in 2022] was a Champions League-winning coach?

“But at the same time, I understand if that’s the criteria [being a winner at club level].”

A ‘challenge’ for aspiring EFL coaches

England have had only English full-time managers in the years since Italian and Champions League-winning coach Fabio Capello guided the Three Lions from 2007 to 2012, a stint that ended without silverware.

Gareth Southgate, who did not win any major trophies as a club coach, took charge of England in 2016 and reached two European Championship finals.

Potter led Swedish side Ostersund from the fourth tier into the top flight with three promotions in five seasons and won the 2017 Swedish Cup, before spending time in the Championship with Swansea City.

He believes judging managers on just winning is “quite a binary measurement”, making the pathway a “challenge” for coaches coming up the English Football League [EFL] pyramid.

“Football looks at whether you win or lose and if you win, you’re good and if you lose, you’re not very good,” Potter said.

“If you’re managing an EFL team, it’s a fairly English-based side, and then you go into the Premier League, and it’s more multinational, things like playing style then is a challenge.

“After success for coaches in the EFL, do teams in the Premier League look at that and go ‘OK, yeah, that’s a good barometer for us to employ’?

“At the moment, it doesn’t seem that way.”

I’ve known Moises since he first arrived in England to play for me at Brighton, and his story is an interesting one.

It was never a case where he landed in a new country and everything went great for him – but he has always shown he can cope when not everything goes to plan.

The way it began for him with us at Brighton was similar to what happened when he first joined Chelsea, in that it felt like he has had to suffer and dig in before coming out the other side and showing everyone his true quality.

He has established himself now at Chelsea, which is credit to him because that status has not come easy – for lots of reasons.

Moises has had to cope with a lot of criticism of his £115m price tag, and also criticism of him personally as a player in terms of what he has given to the team, so it’s no wonder he admitted he lost some confidence.

Things are different now. The Chelsea team has settled down a lot since he first joined, which has probably helped him a lot, but he has grown with them.

He is at an exciting club, in the way that they are a young team who are going to grow together, so they will get to know each other more and more – and he and they are only going to get better from here.

‘He joined a club in transition’

It is just over a year since Chelsea beat Liverpool to the race to buy Moises from Brighton, for an initial £100m fee – that could rise to a British record.

There is sometimes an expectation that you sign players and they are going to hit the ground running, and be some kind of instant solution to whatever problem you have got.

What people often misunderstand is that you have been watching a player who is playing a certain way, and functioning well in a well-functioning team.

When you put him in a different situation, and in a team that is not functioning in the same way, you don’t get the same player – temporarily, anyway. They just need some help and support to get back to that point.

You have to understand the context of the club he went to, because it is fair to say Chelsea were in a period of transition for a couple of years, including the time I was there as manager.

It was probably similar for Marc Cucurella, who also moved from Brighton to Chelsea in 2022. All of a sudden you are at a new club, with new team-mates and a new context. If the team is not doing well, that makes it even harder.

It is difficult for all players – not just young ones – and, just like he did when he first came to England, Moises had to adapt.

‘I’d describe his character as world class’

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Caicedo and Potter celebrate after Brighton’s 4-0 win over Manchester United in May 2022 – it was only the sixth Premier League game Caicedo had played

Moises was only 19 when we brought him over from Ecuador in 2021 and, when we sent him out on loan in Belgium a few months later, the team he joined were struggling at the bottom of the league.

Moises found that spell quite tough. We spoke to him a lot at that time, and also when he came back to Brighton at the start of 2022, when he felt he was still adapting to the intensity of the training sessions and the way the game is played over here.

Because he always had the physicality for the demands of the Premier League, we knew that once he did adapt he would be able to cope with it, no problem.

He just needed time, and the right pathway into the first team – we knew he was talented but we were never going to throw him off the plane from Ecuador and straight on to the pitch.

We tried to give him everything he needed, but the other thing that helped him make such an impact was his attitude. I would describe his character as world class, and I am sure it has made a difference for him at Chelsea too.

Moises is a mix of someone who wants to learn and improve, but is also highly intelligent anyway. The way he approaches things is the perfect combination for a manager or coach to work with, and because of that I always thought his future was extremely bright.

I’ve not spoken to him for a while, but I’d be amazed if he had changed, just because of how grounded he was when he was playing for me.

He was always extremely humble and understood the journey he had been on to come to England, and was grateful for the opportunities and support he was given.

At the same time, he had already done so much for himself – to play international football for Ecuador at a young age, and then break into the Brighton team and do so well.

‘He will make everyone else better too’

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Caicedo is an ever-present in the Premier League this season and has played 727 minutes in all competitions in 2024-25, more than any other Chelsea player. The next most is Cole Palmer with 630 minutes

You never know for sure how a young player will do in the first team. All you can go off is what you see every day in training, and how he is as a person.

By that I mean how he can handle pressure, and deal with disappointment and setbacks, because those are the things that get challenged constantly in the Premier League.

Moises deserves great credit for the way he has come through all of those things, at Brighton and now at Chelsea, to be playing at the level he is currently at.

The fact that he has captained Chelsea already this season, in the Europa Conference League against Servette, says a lot about his mentality and tells you what people within the building think of him as a person.

That side of things does not surprise me at all, because I know what he is like and how he plays his football.

When people talk about team players, well, that’s Moises – he just wants to do the best he can for his team. Of course, he is a better player when the team is functioning well, but he will make everyone else better too.

He is not the guy who is going to dribble past 10 players or try something flash.

He is physical, he wins the ball for you and he keeps things simple when he has got it, although he has got quality too – look at the through ball he played for Nicolas Jackson to score against West Ham a couple of weeks ago.

The impact he has in the team goes beyond most of the stats that are shown for midfielders, because they don’t wholly reflect his role and influence on the team.

You can use those binary measurements, like tackles made, distance run or sprints and it tells you one thing about him – but not everything.

‘He gives balance to this Chelsea side’

Image caption: Chelsea’s midfield and attack has been unchanged in their past three Premier League games – wins over West Ham and Brighton and a draw with Nottingham Forest

When Moises was a teenager he was more of a box-to-box player, and at Brighton he did not start out as a dedicated holding player either.

He can play different roles in a team, including hitting the box – because he has the capacity to be that old-fashioned midfielder who can do everything – tackle and pass, and shoot and score.

At the moment, though, he is playing a specific role for Chelsea because of the way Enzo Maresca wants them to play, as the more defensive midfielder covering the five players ahead of him.

That makes sense because Chelsea have got their front three of Jadon Sancho, Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson, with Cole Palmer behind them and Enzo Fernandez in a slightly higher position too.

Behind them, they have got Moises alongside one of their inverted full-backs, which provides them with the balance which allows that front five to attack.

Image caption: Graphic showing the average position where Chelsea’s players touched the ball in their draw against Forest. Caicedo is number 25

So, what is asked of him is quite clear. Like I say, he could do other things as well but, at the same time, he is really good at the job Maresca has given him because of his intelligence and physical attributes.

To be a holding midfielder it helps if you are strong positionally, as in you read the game and are in the right position most of the time, but you also need to be able to cope if you do get it wrong occasionally, because it is going to happen.

In the Premier League you have defend big spaces sometimes, especially in a team like Chelsea – who like to drive the opposition back but leave them space to break into.

Moises’ positional sense will get better and better, the more he plays in that role, but he is already very good at recovering those big spaces and winning the ball back. Along with everything else, that makes him the perfect fit for the way they want to play.

I am really pleased to see him flourishing the way he is. He has seen his difficult periods out, without going under, and has kept on being himself – wanting the ball, winning the ball, and doing the right things.

This is just the start for him, but he and Chelsea are already seeing the rewards of his hard work.

Potter was sacked by Chelsea in April 2023 and the 48-year-old has held talks with Dutch club Ajax.

They have been without a permanent manager since October when Maurice Steijn was sacked and John van ‘t Schip has been in charge on an interim basis.

They were beaten 6-0 by rivals Feyenoord on Sunday.

Ajax also have issues at board level, and their chief executive Alex Kroes was suspended for alleged insider trading this month.

It is understood former Brighton and Swansea boss Potter wants to make sure he is aligned with his next club’s strategy and long-term plan.

Potter has also been linked with the manager’s job at Manchester United if there was to be a change of head coach at Old Trafford and Erik ten Hag was to leave.

Manchester United’s incoming sporting director, Dan Ashworth, also worked with Potter when he was manager of Brighton.

Although during his time at Stamford Bridge the club’s league form was criticised, Potter did lead Chelsea to the Champions League quarter-finals.

However, he parted ways with the Blues before they lost to Real Madrid last season.

Potter built his reputation at Swedish club Ostersund and Swansea in the Championship before making the switch to the Premier League, where he guided Brighton to a ninth-place finish.

The Blues have won just two of their past 14 games in all competitions and were beaten 1-0 by Premier League strugglers Southampton on Saturday.

Potter was appointed in September following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel.

However, Chelsea’s owners have made it clear that hiring Potter was part of a long-term project.

It is felt the team needs an opportunity to gel after a rebuild that has seen £583m spent on new players in the past two transfer windows, with eight new signings arriving in January alone.

It is also recognised the unprecedented injury crisis has also contributed to difficult circumstances for Potter.

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A head injury to Cesar Azpilicueta in Saturday’s match adds another name to Chelsea’s lengthy injury list, which includes Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Christian Pulisic, Wesley Fofana, Edouard Mendy, Denis Zakaria and Armando Broja.

Potter’s future at Stamford Bridge will not be determined by success in the Champions League this season or the team’s ability to qualify for European football next season.

Although it is accepted Saturday’s result was not good enough – Southampton are bottom of the Premier League table – it is felt there are encouraging signs at the club.

Potter left Brighton and signed a five-year deal with Chelsea following Tuchel’s sacking.

Chelsea have won nine of their 25 games under Potter and sit 10th in the Premier League, 10 points off the Champions League places.

The Blues are next in action on Sunday at fourth-placed Tottenham (13:30 GMT).

Potter is one of the most exciting coaches in the game, starting his journey in Sweden before bringing his talents to the English game over the past four seasons. The 47-year-old is educated to degree level in disciplines beyond sport and has combined these experiences to forge a collaborative, forward-thinking approach while developing attacking and winning football.

That has been in evidence during his time at Brighton & Hove Albion, where he achieved that club’s highest-ever league finish last season. Along the way, he earned praise for his winning brand of football on the south coast, while proving flexible in tactics and formations to be a step ahead of opponents.

On making the move to Stamford Bridge, Potter said: ‘I am incredibly proud and excited to represent Chelsea FC, this fantastic football club. I am very excited to partner with Chelsea’s new ownership group and look forward to meeting and working with the exciting group of players and to develop a team and culture that our amazing fans can be proud of. I would also like to place my sincere thanks to Brighton & Hove Albion for allowing me this opportunity and in particular Tony Bloom and all the players, staff and supporters for their continued support during my time at the club.’

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• Thomas Tuchel tops social media trends after being sacked as Chelsea…

Todd Boehly, chairman, said: ‘We are thrilled to bring Graham to Chelsea. He is a proven coach and an innovator in the Premier League who fits our vision for the Club. Not only is he extremely talented on the pitch, he has skills and capabilities that extend beyond the pitch which will make Chelsea a more successful Club. He has had a major impact at his previous Clubs and we look forward to his positive impact at Chelsea. We look forward to supporting him, his coaching team and the squad in realising their full potential in the coming months and years.’

Behdad Eghbali and José E. Feliciano, co-controlling owners, said: ‘Graham is a football innovator and winner on the pitch and a leader off the pitch. He has deeply impressed us with his ideas and approach to football. We are thrilled to partner with Graham to build a winning team, one that embodies the culture of collaboration, innovation, teamwork, player development, and a commitment to excellence on and off the pitch. We are fortunate to have Graham and his team as our partners in that journey.’

Potter, who has signed a five-year deal as Chelsea head coach, arrived in Ghana weeks before the 2007 Women’s World Cup to help the team prepare.

At the time, he was Hull University’s football development manager. Potter was responsible for the technical and tactical training programme, match preparation, and team selection for the Black Queens ahead of the Mundial.

The former Brighton and Hove Albion coach became the first person outside Ghana to join the technical bench of the women’s team.

The Black Queens finished bottom of Group C at the World Cup after losing to Australia, Canada, and Norway.

Potter moved on to become an assistant coach for the England Universities squad.

Chelsea sacked Tuchel on Wepdnesday, a day after they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat away to Dinamo Zagreb in their ppopening match of the Champions League group stage.

The London club finished third in the Premier League last season but are sixth with 10 points this term after six games, having lost at Leeds United and Southampton.

Tuchel joined Chelsea after the sacking of Frank Lampard and helped the club win the Champions League in his first season. He also led them to the Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup titles last season.

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British media reported that Potter is expected to become the new Chelsea manager before their Premier League trip to Fulham on Saturday.

Potter has taken Brighton to fourth in the table so far this season with six wins, one defeat and a draw.

The 47-year-old was appointed by Brighton in May 2019 and has led the club to 15th, 16th and ninth-place finishes in his three seasons in charge. He managed Swansea City in the Championship before joining Brighton.

Thomas Tuchel was sacked by the London club on Wednesday morning in the immediate aftermath of the club’s 1-0 Champions League defeat to Dinamo Zagreb.

The German guided Chelsea to European glory in 2021 just months after his appointment at Stamford Bridge, but the Blues’ statement said that it was the “right time” to make a change as the club reaches 100 days under the ownership of a consortium led by Todd Boehly.

Chelsea sit sixth in the Premier League table after their opening six games of the season, five points behind early leaders Arsenal, and spent more than £250 million during their first summer transfer window since Roman Abramovich’s sale of the club.

Sky Sports suggest that an approach has been made to Brighton about the well-regarded Potter, and that the club have granted permission for Chelsea to speak to their manager.

The South-Coast side finished an impressive ninth last season and currently occupy fourth spot having been beaten only once so far in the league.

It has been reported that Chelsea would have to pay a release clause to take Potter from Brighton, with a figure of £16 million quoted.

Among the other potential candidates for the vacancy are Mauricio Pochettino and Zinedine Zidane, both currently without a job.

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• Thomas Tuchel sacked by Chelsea

• Chelsea suffer shock defeat at Dinamo Zagreb in UCL opener

Zidane has not taken a managerial post since concluding a second spell at Real Madrid in May of last year and has never coached outside of the Spanish capital club’s set-up.

Pochettino, meanwhile, was sacked by Paris Saint-Germain – where he succeeded Tuchel – in July despite securing the Ligue 1 title.

The former Tottenham manager was heavily linked with a return to the Premier League at Manchester United before the appointment of Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.

Chelsea make the short trip to Fulham at lunchtime on Saturday, with an interim staff formed from the club’s existing coaches likely to take charge while a replacement for Tuchel is recruited.

The Athletic report that the decision to move from Tuchel was made before the defeat in Zagreb amid wider tensions between the German manager and the club’s ownership.

A statement from the club said: “On behalf of everyone at Chelsea FC, the Club would like to place on record its gratitude to Thomas and his staff for all their efforts during their time with the Club.

“Thomas will rightly have a place in Chelsea’s history after winning the Champions League, the Super Cup and Club World Cup in his time here.

“As the new ownership group reaches 100 days since taking over the Club, and as it continues its hard work to take the club forward, the new owners believe it is the right time to make this transition.”