Ebony Salmon has opened up on her decision to join West Ham United Women, revealing that Rita Guarino’s plans for the club convinced her to become part of the rebuild. The England forward believes something exciting is being created in east London after becoming one of nine summer additions to the squad.
Salmon joined West Ham on a two-year deal after leaving Aston Villa earlier this summer, adding significant WSL experience to Guarino’s attacking options.
She is now settling into her new surroundings during pre-season as West Ham prepare for Guarino’s first full campaign in charge.
Ebony Salmon excited by West Ham project
Speaking to West Ham’s official website, Salmon made clear that Guarino’s vision played an important role in her decision.
“Rita’s trying to build something here, and I want to be a part of it,” she said.
That message fits with the significant recruitment drive West Ham have completed this summer.
ReadWestHam recently analysed how the club’s nine new signings have transformed Guarino’s squad, with Salmon and Kelly Gago providing two experienced new options in attack.
Salmon can operate through the middle or from wider areas and arrives with more than 90 WSL appearances across spells with Bristol City and Aston Villa.
Her pace and direct running should give Guarino another way of attacking teams, particularly alongside Gago and the other new additions.
The 25-year-old initially said after signing that conversations with Guarino and others at West Ham made the club feel like the right fit for the next stage of her career.
The scale of West Ham’s rebuild suggests those conversations were backed up in the transfer market.
Laia Codina, Katie Zelem, Constance Picaud and Nadine Riesen are among the players to have joined, giving Guarino significantly greater depth across the squad.
Salmon will also have an early reunion with her former club when West Ham face Aston Villa in a pre-season friendly on 30 August.
ReadWestHam reported last week that the game will take place at Keys Park as Guarino continues preparations for the new WSL campaign.
West Ham have made substantial changes this summer. Salmon’s latest comments suggest the players arriving are buying into what Guarino is trying to build.
