West Ham United will begin the 2026/27 Championship season as promotion favourites, but Nuno Espírito Santo still needs significant additions before his side can be considered ready for an immediate Premier League return.
Relegation ended West Ham’s 14-year stay in the top flight. The club have since backed Nuno, raised £85million through the sale of Mateus Fernandes and started reshaping a squad built for a demanding 46-game campaign.
The betting market views West Ham as the team to beat. BetVictor currently prices the Hammers at 4/6 to win promotion and 9/4 to win the Championship title.
Those odds reflect West Ham’s financial strength and the quality still available to Nuno. They do not disguise the scale of the work remaining before the opening fixture at Burnley.
This guide brings together West Ham’s current Championship position, promotion odds, confirmed fixtures and key transfer developments as of 14 July 2026.
Where Do West Ham Stand Before The Championship Season?
The Championship table remains empty until the new campaign begins, so West Ham do not yet hold a formal league position.
Their place in the pre-season picture is much clearer.
West Ham finished 18th in the Premier League last season with 39 points. A 3-0 victory over Leeds United on the final day was not enough to prevent relegation after Tottenham Hotspur beat Everton and moved above Nuno’s side.
It brought West Ham’s 14-season Premier League stay to an end despite a late attempt to escape the bottom three.
Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley were also relegated. All three clubs enter the Championship with parachute payments, recent top-flight experience and squads likely to contain players above the usual second-tier level.
That has shaped the early promotion market.
West Ham are favourites, Wolves are generally second and Burnley are also priced among the leading contenders. Birmingham City and Middlesbrough sit within the next group, while Sheffield United and Wrexham will hope to join the challenge.
West Ham’s status brings pressure as well as optimism. Every opponent will view a meeting with the Hammers as one of the biggest fixtures of its season.
Nuno’s squad must cope with that attention across 46 matches, often with short recovery periods and little margin for complacency.
What Are West Ham’s Promotion Odds?
West Ham are currently 4/6 with BetVictor to win promotion and 9/4 to win the Championship title.
Wolves are listed at 13/8 for promotion, with Burnley at 11/4. The prices can change quickly as transfers are completed and pre-season develops.
| Club | Promotion Odds | Championship Title Odds |
|---|---|---|
| West Ham United | 4/6 | 9/4 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 13/8 | 9/2 |
| Burnley | 11/4 | 8/1 |
Bookmaker odds measure market expectation rather than certainty.
Relegated teams often begin among the favourites because of their resources, but the Championship regularly punishes clubs that fail to adapt. West Ham will face more direct football, congested schedules and opponents prepared to defend deep for long periods.
Nuno has experience of winning promotion from the division. He guided Wolves to the Championship title in 2017/18 before establishing them in the Premier League.
That record is one reason West Ham chose continuity after relegation.
Why Did West Ham Keep Nuno Espírito Santo?
West Ham confirmed in May that Nuno would remain as head coach and lead the attempt to return to the Premier League.
The decision followed meetings between the manager and the board after relegation. Both parties committed to continuing together rather than beginning another managerial search.
Nuno took over during the 2025/26 season and could not prevent the club from going down. However, the hierarchy saw enough improvement during the closing months to retain him.
His previous promotion with Wolves also provides relevant experience.
Nuno understands the physical and tactical demands of the Championship. He must now build a West Ham side capable of controlling matches rather than relying mainly on counter-attacking football.
The first unofficial evidence came in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Colchester United at Rush Green.
West Ham won 3-2, with Niclas Füllkrug, Maxwel Cornet and Pablo scoring. Nuno used two different XIs across the match as he assessed senior players, returning loanees and academy prospects.
The result carried little competitive significance, but it gave the coaching staff an early opportunity to examine the squad.
ReadWestHam has already looked at how the Colchester fixture offered Nuno his first meaningful selection clues.
How Does The Mateus Fernandes Sale Change The Rebuild?
Mateus Fernandes’ £85m move to Tottenham is West Ham’s defining piece of summer business so far.
The midfielder joined from Southampton for an initial £38m in 2025. Selling him less than a year later generated a profit of more than £40m.
It was excellent financial business, but West Ham have also lost one of the players best equipped to dominate the Championship.
Fernandes could carry the ball, play through pressure and increase the pace of West Ham’s attacks. Replacing those qualities will require more than simply adding another central midfielder.
ReadWestHam examined how the Fernandes sale can bankroll a broader squad rebuild.
Nuno needs depth across several positions. The Championship season includes eight more league matches than a Premier League campaign, while West Ham will also compete in both domestic cups.
Spending most of the Fernandes fee on one replacement would leave other weaknesses unresolved.
The club need creativity, central midfield depth and another reliable forward. Defensive reinforcements may also be required depending on further departures.
West Ham currently have the financial capacity to build the division’s strongest squad. The concern is how slowly that money has been converted into confirmed signings.
ReadWestHam has argued that promotion rivals are moving faster while West Ham’s major business remains incomplete.
Who Could Join West Ham?
West Ham have been linked with several players as the recruitment team attempts to reshape Nuno’s squad.
Gustavo Sá has been identified as a midfield target following an impressive campaign with Famalicão. The Portugal Under-21 international would bring technical quality and long-term development value.
James McAtee has also been considered, although the Nottingham Forest midfielder may prefer to remain at the City Ground following Oliver Glasner’s appointment.
Dwight McNeil is another possible creative option. His ability to play from either side and deliver from set-pieces would suit a team expected to face compact Championship defences.
West Ham have also been linked with several Celtic players following recommendations from recruitment director Nils Koppen.
ReadWestHam reported that Koppen has identified three possible targets from the Scottish champions, although no bids had been submitted at the time of publication.
The number of links shows West Ham are exploring several markets. Supporters will want those discussions to produce completed deals before the Burnley opener.
Who Could Still Leave West Ham?
Further departures remain possible.
Crysencio Summerville has attracted interest following relegation. Losing him would remove one of the squad’s most dangerous one-against-one attackers and create another major recruitment task.
Edson Álvarez has also been linked with a return to Germany, although negotiations over personal terms have complicated his potential exit.
Konstantinos Mavropanos is expected to stay despite reported Arsenal interest. West Ham view the Greece international as an important part of their Championship defence.
ReadWestHam reported that the club have communicated their intention to keep Mavropanos.
Callum Wilson has already departed following the expiry of his contract. His exit increases the need for another striker, particularly given Füllkrug’s injury record.
West Ham cannot assume their current Premier League-level players will all remain until the window closes. The recruitment plan must account for late departures as well as current weaknesses.
When Do West Ham Begin The Championship Season?
West Ham will begin their Championship campaign away to Burnley on Sunday, 16 August 2026, with kick-off at 4pm BST.
The match has been selected for live television coverage.
It is a demanding opening fixture between two relegated clubs expected to challenge near the top of the table.
Burnley will provide an immediate indication of West Ham’s readiness. Nuno is likely to face a well-organised opponent with its own promotion ambitions and recent Premier League experience.
West Ham’s full schedule also includes a home fixture against Norwich City on Boxing Day.
The Championship’s pace will become relentless once the season begins. Strong squad depth could prove more important than having the division’s most expensive starting XI.
Are West Ham Ready To Win Promotion?
West Ham have the resources, manager and remaining senior quality to mount a serious promotion challenge.
Their current status as favourites is reasonable.
However, the squad is not yet complete enough to justify treating promotion as inevitable.
The Fernandes sale has created financial flexibility, but it has also removed a leading midfielder. Wilson has left, other senior players could follow and several reported targets remain at the discussion stage.
Nuno needs a deeper squad with enough creativity to break down defensive opponents. He must also establish a consistent system and restore confidence after relegation.
Keeping players such as Jarrod Bowen, Summerville and Mavropanos would give West Ham an advantage few Championship clubs could match.
Adding the right midfielders and another dependable striker would strengthen that position further.
West Ham should compete for automatic promotion. Whether they finish in the top two will depend on how effectively the club uses the remainder of the transfer window.
West Ham Championship 2026/27 Facts
When does West Ham’s Championship season begin?
West Ham visit Burnley on Sunday, 16 August 2026. Kick-off is scheduled for 4pm BST.
What are West Ham’s promotion odds?
BetVictor currently lists West Ham at 4/6 for promotion and 9/4 to win the Championship title.
Who are West Ham’s main promotion rivals?
Wolves and Burnley are the closest challengers in the early betting, with Birmingham and Middlesbrough also expected to compete.
Is Nuno Espírito Santo still West Ham manager?
Yes. West Ham confirmed that Nuno will remain in charge for the 2026/27 Championship campaign.
Who has West Ham sold this summer?
The largest departure is Mateus Fernandes, who joined Tottenham in an £85m deal.
Have West Ham replaced Fernandes?
No direct replacement had been confirmed as of 14 July 2026.
Where are West Ham in the Championship table?
The season has not started, so every club remains on zero points with no formal standings established.
