After spending the last week in southern Germany, the Hammers will end their week-long training camp with a visit to Grasshopper Club Zürich’s training complex, where they will face the Swiss side.
West Ham flew out to Zurich last Saturday and travelled to the Black Forest in southern Germany to begin their pre-season training camp. Most of the first team squad have flown out to Europe. As well as a handful of academy players have travelled.
The Hammers will be hoping to kick-off pre-season with a win but will face against a team who are at the end of their pre-season programme. Grasshopper Club Zürich have already played two fixtures against FC Vaduz and FC Sion, and will look to end on a win, with the Swiss Super League beginning on Saturday 26th July, when they face FC Luzern.
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West Ham Team News
Graham Potter will have a total of 29 players to choose from for Saturday’s game. This gives the Hammers boss the chance to play youth players as well as players who spent last season out.
West Ham have confirmed that the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Lucas Paquetá as well as many more first team players will be involved. New signing El Hadji Malick Diouf may also be in a chance with playing, however he has just joined up with squad so that remains to be seen.
It’ll also be a chance to see West Ham players who spent the last campaign out on loan. The likes of Freddie Potts and Callum who experienced very successful loan spells, will no doubt be involved. George Earthy would have been involved who had a successful loan move at Bristol City but he has reportedly suffered an ankle ligament injury and will be out for three to four weeks.
First team players Nayef Aguerd and Maxwel Cornet could be given a chance to play in front of Graham Potter for the first time after they spent last season on loan in Europe. Crysencio Summerville travelled out to Germany to carry on his rehabilitation after the injury he picked up in January, so it’s very unlikely that he gets any minutes.
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Who to look out for
With it being chance to impress, many players will want to put in a good performance ahead of the Premier League season. Academy players will be looking at the likes of Ollie Scarles who established himself in the first team last season and thinking they want aim to be where he is.
Someone who will most likely break into the first team this season, after two successful loan spells in the Championship and League One is Freddie Potts. The 21-year-old is one to look out for on Saturday.
The Standard reported this week that Potter plans to integrate Potts and Earthy into the first team for next season. The midfielder has made over 80 appearances over the last two seasons, which has seen him gain lots of experience and be a standout player at both levels.
Potts hasn’t been afraid to comment on how he wants to play for his boyhood club and spoke to the West Ham website before the squad travelled out to Germany.
“It means a lot to me to be back here at Rush Green because I'm a massive West Ham fan. My family are all West Ham fans, and it's always been my dream to play for this incredible Club, and to be part of it was my dream when I was a kid, so now I've just got to try and work hard enough to try and prove myself in the first-team.
“It (pre-season camp in Germany) is another opportunity for me, so I'm really looking forward to it with confidence.
“I'm excited because we've got a game against Grasshopper Club Zürich out there as well, and we can get some vital minutes into our legs.
“Having that chance to try and prove yourself against some of the better opposition in Europe is a really good opportunity, especially for me, to test myself to see where I'm at.
“I'm looking forward to showing people what I can do on the pitch and what I can bring off the pitch as well.”
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Match Details
Where is the game being played?
The match will take place at Grasshopper Club Zürich’s training complex, GC/Campus.
What time is kick-off?
The match will begin at 2pm BST (3pm CEST) on Saturday, 19th July 2025.
Where to watch the match?
The game will be available to watch on West Ham’s YouTube channel, website and club app.
