First Team Squad
Player profile and performance records.
Alphonse Areola (Goalkeeper)
Alphonse Areola
Paris, FrancePosition: Goalkeeper
Born: 27th Feb 1993 (Paris, France)
Signed: 29th Jul 2021 (£8,000,000)
Contract: 5 years + 1 year option (signed June 2022)
Previous Club: Paris St Germain
KUMB Awards: None.
Areola spent a highly-successful season on loan at Fulham in 2020/21, which persuaded Davis Moyes to bring him to West Ham as a potential long-term replacement for veteran stopper Lukasz Fabianski.
He joined the club on a season-long loan with view to a permanent transfer at the end of the campaign.
In June 2022, a matter of weeks after his loan spell expired, David Moyes snapped up the goalkeeper on a five year contract with an option to extend for one further year for a fee in the region of £8million.
Areola changed his shirt number from number 13 to number 23 in July 2023.
vs FK TSC Backa Topola
3-1: Thursday, 21st SeptemberDid not play.
vs Brighton & Hove Albion
3-1: Saturday, 26th August(Played 90 minutes)
A few easy saves, and then two very good ones. Just got to make sure he isn't dropping silly high balls in his own box.
vs Bournemouth
1-1: Saturday, 12th August(Played 90 minutes)
First Premeir League fixture as number one, and he handled himself well. Perhaps a slight question mark over the decision to leave his line for the goal.
vs Fiorentina
2-1: Wednesday, 7th June(Played 90 minutes)
He wasn't tested enough to need to be anything more. He did hold shots well, which can be important.
vs Leicester City
1-2: Sunday, 28th MayDid not play.
vs Leeds United
3-1: Sunday, 21st MayDid not play.
vs AZ Alkmaar
1-0: Thursday, 18th May(Played 90 minutes)
The kind of 7/10 you want, usually. The heroics of the save from Kehrer's pass are slightly cancelled out by the mess when claiming that high ball with minutes to go. Otherwise, he was pretty much untested, as you'd want.
vs Brentford
0-2: Sunday, 14th MayDid not play.
vs AZ Alkmaar
2-1: Thursday, 11th May(Played 90 minutes)
Failed his big test, and he was barely tested otherwise. Should have saved it, no doubting that, it was a big error. Could use game time in the league now to sharpen him up.
vs Manchester United
1-0: Sunday, 7th MayDid not play.
vs Bournemouth
4-0: Sunday, 23rd AprilDid not play.
vs Gent
4-1: Thursday, 20th April(Played 90 minutes)
Can't really blame him for the goal, especially as all the shots were so mishit that he could never really set himself. It was all he had to do, his goal otherwise unthreatened.
vs Fulham
1-0: Saturday, 8th AprilDid not play.
vs Newcastle United
1-5: Wednesday, 5th AprilDid not play.
vs Southampton
1-0: Sunday, 2nd AprilDid not play.
vs AEK Larnaca
4-0: Thursday, 16th March(Played 90 minutes)
The little he had to do, he did well, including claiming the odd cross.
vs Aston Villa
1-1: Sunday, 12th March(Played 90 minutes)
Nothing he could do about the goal, but better on corners today and then made a massive save from close range against Watkins, and his movement and positioning made the late stab at goal by Duran into a nothing chance. Had he been too static, that could have just been poked in.
vs AEK Larnaca
2-0: Thursday, 9th March(Played 90 minutes)
Not really tested, at all, but there were two moments claiming corners where he again looked less than impressive, with Aguerd nearly heading into his own goal once more as Areola flapped at him.
vs Brighton & Hove Albion
0-4: Saturday, 4th March(Played 90 minutes)
Didn't kick well, easily beaten on all goals.
vs Manchester United
1-3: Wednesday, 1st March(Played 90 minutes)
Some good saves let down by very weak goalkeeping for the first goal. If you can?EUR(TM)t clear your lines when the ball is that close to you, you?EUR(TM)re either too weak or too slow to make a decision.
vs Nottingham Forest
4-0: Saturday, 25th February(Played 22 minutes, sub)
(Replaced Fabianski 68) Came on cold but did well, one good save and one nice claim.
vs Tottenham Hotspur
0-2: Sunday, 19th FebruaryDid not play.
vs Derby County
2-0: Monday, 30th January(Played 90 minutes)
An easy night. One nice claim of a cross and then Kehrer's wobble, otherwise he must have been bored.
vs Everton
2-0: Saturday, 21st JanuaryDid not play.
vs Leeds United
2-2: Wednesday, 4th JanuaryDid not play.
vs Arsenal
1-3: Monday, 26th DecemberDid not play.
vs Leicester City
0-2: Saturday, 12th November(Played 0 minutes, sub)
Did not play.
vs Crystal Palace
1-2: Sunday, 6th NovemberDid not play.
vs FCSB
3-0: Thursday, 3rd November(Played 90 minutes)
A couple easy saves on a quiet night.
vs Manchester United
0-1: Sunday, 30th October(Played 45 minutes, sub)
(Replaced Fabianski 46) Did little, but did it fine.
vs Silkeborg
1-0: Thursday, 27th October(Played 90 minutes)
A boring night for Areola, but was up to any challenge he faced. Always aware off his line, which is more impressive considering how concentration must have been a struggle.
vs AFC Bournemouth
2-0: Monday, 24th OctoberDid not play.
vs Anderlecht
2-1: Thursday, 13th October(Played 90 minutes)
One easy save, one save that was likely going wide. Untroubled, basically.
vs Fulham
3-1: Sunday, 9th OctoberDid not play.
vs RSC Anderlecht
1-0: Thursday, 6th October(Played 90 minutes)
Two moments of concentration were basically all that was needed, but that last save made sure it was a victory rather than a draw. A big moment and he answered it.
vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
2-0: Saturday, 1st OctoberDid not play.
vs Everton
0-1: Sunday, 18th SeptemberDid not play.
vs Silkeborg
3-2: Thursday, 15th September(Played 90 minutes)
If you forgive him for being caught out on the first, the disallowed goal and then the second goal were both abysmal bits of goalkeeping.
vs FCSB
3-1: Thursday, 8th September(Played 90 minutes)
Poor on the chance for the corner, good off his line late in the first half.
vs Chelsea
1-2: Saturday, 3rd SeptemberDid not play.
vs Tottenham Hotspur
1-1: Wednesday, 31st AugustDid not play.
vs Aston Villa
1-0: Sunday, 28th AugustDid not play.
vs Viborg FF
3-0: Thursday, 25th August(Played 90 minutes)
Tested more than he should have been, but did very well on the occasions he was needed. A positive sign for his concentration and agility.
vs Brighton & Hove Albion
0-2: Sunday, 21st AugustDid not play.
vs Viborg FF
3-1: Thursday, 18th August(Played 90 minutes)
Did reasonably well, with one good save and a few other decent but comfortable stops.
vs Nottingham Forest
0-1: Sunday, 14th AugustDid not play.
vs Manchester City
0-2: Sunday, 7th August(Played 61 minutes, sub)
(Replaced Fabianski 29) It?EUR(TM)s harsh, but he had his chances to stake a claim and failed. Too slow for the penalty award, and should have been looking to block rather than slide out and smother. Then his positioning is questionable on the second, and he?EUR(TM)s beaten very easily.
Servette FC
2-0: Friday, 8th JulyDid not play.
Brighton & Hove Albion
1-3: Sunday, 22nd MayDid not play.
Manchester City
2-2: Sunday, 15th MayDid not play.
Norwich City
4-0: Saturday, 7th MayDid not play.
Eintracht Frankfurt
0-1: Thursday, 5th MayHis European campaign has been good. He couldn't stop the goal, and wasn't tested too much afterwards. He hasn't really done anything spectacular to take Fabianski's place, but then those performances are hard for a goalkeeper. You don't want them to have spectacular games, it usually means the team isn't. It is difficult to judge what happens next with Areola, his mind may be made up to leave after not taking the number one place, whilst Moyes hasn't shown any hints to help.
Arsenal
1-2: Sunday, 1st MayDid not play.
Eintracht Frankfurt
1-2: Thursday, 28th AprilDid well with what he could do well with, truthfully. He could not stop the goals, the save on the second one was very good.
Chelsea
0-1: Sunday, 24th AprilDid not play.
Burnley
1-1: Sunday, 17th AprilDid not play.
Lyon
3-0: Thursday, 14th AprilIt's a compliment to the team that they can win away in Europe and have the goalkeeper given a generally average rating. One good save.
Brentford
0-2: Sunday, 10th AprilDid not play.
Lyon
1-1: Thursday, 7th AprilNot drastically tested, but looked to have good command of his area and did well when called upon. For the goal, he gets a palm to the ball to fire it at Fredericks, but it's all he could do or he'd be allowing that to creep in.
Everton
2-1: Sunday, 3rd AprilDid not play.
Tottenham
1-3: Sunday, 20th MarchDid not play.
Seville
2-0: Thursday, 17th MarchOne big moment, one massive save. With every part of him flying in the opposite direction to the ball, getting such a strong hand out to a powerfully hit shot was just instinctively brilliant. Some good claims later too, a performance that could well convince the club to sign him at the end of this season.
Aston Villa
2-1: Sunday, 13th MarchDid not play.
Seville
0-1: Thursday, 10th MarchAbsolutely nothing he could do on the goal, but he made some potentially awkward efforts look simple with good positioning and a clever reading of play, whilst the save down the right-hand side from the angle was exceptionally sharp reactions.
Liverpool
0-1: Saturday, 5th MarchDid not play.
Southampton
1-3: Wednesday, 2nd MarchQuestions on the first and third goal, harsh as that might be. The one good save he made, a flying dive from a long-range effort, was not convincing either.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
1-0: Sunday, 27th FebruaryDid not play.
Newcastle United
1-1: Saturday, 19th FebruaryDid not play.
Leicester City
2-2: Sunday, 13th FebruaryDid not play.
Watford
1-0: Tuesday, 8th FebruaryDid not play.
Kidderminster Harriers
2-1: Saturday, 5th FebruaryPoor on multiple crosses. The goal was very bad, coming into a crowd of players for a ball he could not get to. But he didn't learn, coming out for another later on at chest height and fumbling it to the ground. Every step forward for Areola comes with another step back, and whilst it has been said before that Fabianski could do with being more proactive, his safer approach leads to far fewer moments of calamity.
Manchester United
0-1: Saturday, 22nd JanuaryNot particularly tested, but was good in what he did. His kicking is better than Fabianski’s, he was out well for crosses, he’s quicker across and off his line. He’ll be frustrated he wasn’t given much chance to prove his quality here.
Leeds United
2-3: Sunday, 16th JanuaryDid not play.
Norwich
2-0: Wednesday, 12th JanuaryDid not play.
Leeds United
2-0: Sunday, 9th JanuaryJust wasn’t called upon. Any Leeds chance went wide. Good off his line on crosses which shows he was concentrated and maintained control.
Crystal Palace
3-2: Saturday, 1st JanuaryDid not play.
Watford
4-1: Tuesday, 28th DecemberDid not play.
Southampton
2-3: Sunday, 26th DecemberDid not play.
Tottenham Hotspur
1-2: Wednesday, 22nd DecemberOne comfortable save and then just poor goalkeeping for the second goal. Will need to do better in any appearances he has left this season if he is to push to be number one in the next.
Arsenal
0-2: Wednesday, 15th DecemberDid not play.
Burnley
0-0: Saturday, 11th DecemberDid not play.
Dinamo Zagreb
0-1: Thursday, 9th DecemberLeft completely outdone by a fantastic early goal, he reacted well when he was tested later on.
Brighton & Hove Albion
1-1: Wednesday, 1st DecemberDid not play.
Manchester City
1-2: Saturday, 27th NovemberDid not play.
Rapid Vienna
2-0: Thursday, 25th NovemberThat must have been very boring.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
0-1: Saturday, 20th NovemberDid not play.
Liverpool
3-2: Saturday, 6th NovemberDid not play.
Genk
2-2: Thursday, 4th NovemberRecovered after a poor start, but the early goal was stoppable and his decent saves were still very easy. Nothing he could do about the second.
Aston Villa
4-1: Sunday, 31st OctoberDid not play.
Tottenham Hotspur
1-0: Sunday, 24th OctoberDid not play.
KRC Genk
3-0: Thursday, 21st OctoberCalls for Areola’s imminent first team inclusion may be quietened by this. Even his intervention rushing out of his box was clumsy, whilst the incident with Dawson showed poor communication and the flailing attempt to beat man-mountain Onuachu to a high ball was very poor.
Everton
1-0: Sunday, 17th OctoberDid not play.
Brentford
1-2: Sunday, 3rd OctoberDid not play.
Rapid Vienna
2-0: Thursday, 30th SeptemberHe certainly was on the pitch, but he didn’t have anything to do and must have been bored.
Leeds United
2-1: Saturday, 25th SeptemberDid not play.
Manchester United
1-0: Wednesday, 22nd SeptemberThe corner that he came for and missed was a worry, but could have been a desire to make an impression. A few saves later, the goalkeeper looked much more assured. Some decent saves and a promising first 90 minutes.
Manchester United
1-2: Sunday, 19th SeptemberDid not play.
Southampton
0-0: Saturday, 11th SeptemberDid not play.
Crystal Palace
2-2: Saturday, 28th AugustDid not play.
Leicester City
4-1: Monday, 23rd AugustDid not play.
Newcastle United
4-2: Sunday, 15th AugustDid not play.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.
Alphonse Areola did not play for West Ham during this season.