Michail Antonio says he 'swallowed his ego' to find new club

Former West Ham forward Michail Antonio, the club's leading Premier League scorer with 68 goals, has joined Qatari side Al‑Sailiya on a short‑term deal after a difficult search for a new club. The 35‑year‑old was sidelined for eight months following a near‑fatal car crash in 2024 that left him with multiple leg fractures, and he was released by the East London club in August after eight months without a senior appearance.

Clubs closely examined his medical history and many were reluctant to commit. "I've still got the qualities I had in the Premier League for the past 10 years," Antonio said, noting that managers often wanted him once he trained with them but some owners refused to back deals.

That divide between coaching staff and those holding the purse strings left him needing to prove his fitness in trials. He kept training with West Ham's under‑21s and featured for Jamaica, but ultimately had to set pride aside.

Qatar, East London

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