Jarrod Bowen’s last-gasp strike against Fiorentina in June 2023 delivered European glory for West Ham and secured his place in the club’s folklore.
His decision to pledge his future to the club may be more valuable than any summer arrival the Hammers could have made.
Bowen has finished as West Ham’s leading scorer in four of the last five seasons, tallying 76 goals in 227 appearances across all competitions.
He has also supplied 53 assists, and he underlined his intent for this campaign in Saturday’s 3-1 EFL Cup win over Portsmouth, scoring once and creating another.
An England international of his quality could be invaluable.
After confirming he would remain at the London Stadium, Bowen said staying was an easy decision and that the ambition is crystal clear: the Premier League.
Even so, the 29-year-old recognises how demanding the Championship can be.
He pointed to the grind of 46 fixtures and the relentless run of midweek and weekend matches.
Bowen acknowledged there will be setbacks and heavy pressure to win the title at the first attempt, but stressed that achieving that goal won’t be straightforward.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo shares that outlook.
Speaking to BBC Radio London, the 52-year-old said that teams dropping into the Championship are often viewed as favourites because the objective is immediate promotion, but he accepts the scale of the task.
He stressed the need for resilience and consistency through a packed schedule and a fiercely competitive division, with many clubs holding the same ambitions.
Even so, he insists they are ready to face the challenge.