West Ham United eased past Stevenage 5-0 in a pre-season friendly on 22 July 2026, as Nuno Espírito Santo’s revamped side showed sharpness before Sunday’s trip to Rangers.
What happened in Stevenage?
West Ham beat Stevenage 5-0 at Broadhall Way, with goals from James Ward-Prowse, Taty Castellanos and three academy players. Ward-Prowse opened the scoring after 13 minutes, drilling home the rebound from Pablo Felipe’s cross after a sweeping team move. Castellanos doubled the lead 12 minutes later, latching onto Jarrod Bowen’s pass before slotting past the keeper.
Ten changes at half-time left only Airidas Golambeckis on the pitch. Stevenage rallied briefly, forcing Alphonse Areola into several saves. Lewis Orford restored control with a first-time strike that curled into the far corner. Josh Ajala’s run led to Kaelan Casey’s volley deflecting in for the fourth, and Jett Murphy finished it off in stoppage time.
Why the academy’s showing matters for West Ham
The academy quartet of Orford, Ajala, Murphy and Golambeckis impressed after a shaky start to the second half. Ezra Mayers and Golambeckis made crucial blocks, while Orford, Ajala and Murphy combined for three of the goals. Their contributions suggest depth beyond the first team, especially with Sunday’s Europa League qualifier at Rangers looming.
Castellanos’ composed finish underlined his claim to lead the attack this season. His movement troubled Stevenage’s backline, and the clean sheet added to the positives. Nuno will have been pleased with the squad’s sharpness and the number of players who stepped up.
What comes next for West Ham?
The result itself matters little in pre-season, but the minutes and goals do. Five different scorers showed West Ham’s firepower, while the clean sheet reinforced Areola’s shot-stopping. The next test comes at Ibrox on Sunday, with Nuno’s side already eyeing a Europa League return.
Castellanos’ future also dominated the build-up. Reports suggest the Argentine is now likely to stay at West Ham, despite Everton’s lingering interest. His performance only strengthened his case to lead the line when the Premier League curtain rises.
