“Unwanted No More: Former West Ham Star Begs for Return to Finish What He Started”

As West Ham wrapped up a disappointing season, the club also bid farewell to a number of first-team players some at the end of their contracts, others returning to their parent clubs after loan spells. Among those heading out the door are two names that represented very different stories during their time at the London Stadium: Carlos Soler and Evan Ferguson.

Now, as the dust settles on a turbulent campaign, both men are at career crossroads. But for one of them, the path to redemption may already be paved with an emotional return to familiar ground.

A Tale of Two Loanees

Carlos Soler, the experienced Spanish midfielder, may not have found a permanent home in East London, but he did leave with his head held high. During his loan stint, Soler featured in 31 matches, scoring once and offering glimpses of the technical quality that once made him a standout at Valencia and a prospect for Paris Saint-Germain.

While Soler was unable to secure a permanent move to West Ham largely due to his hefty wage demands, reportedly around £200,000 a week his performances didn’t go unnoticed. According to reports from fichajes.net, Soler has now opened the door to a return to Valencia, the club where it all began for him. And the timing couldn’t be more poetic: Valencia are preparing to debut their new stadium, and welcoming back one of their own could be the perfect narrative to match the occasion.

In a recent statement, Soler expressed his emotional attachment to the Spanish club:

 “Valencia is home for me. I grew up there, I became a man there. If there’s a chance to be part of the new chapter with the new stadium, I want to be there.”

This admission suggests that for Soler, the brief chapter at West Ham was just a stepping stone on a journey that is far from over.

Ferguson: From Premier League Hopeful to Career Limbo

While Soler’s exit seems likely to end on a hopeful note, Evan Ferguson faces a much more uncertain future.

The young Irish striker arrived at West Ham on loan from Brighton, a move that was seen as a golden opportunity for him to grow under the tutelage of manager Graham Potter, with whom he had worked previously. But things did not go as planned. Ferguson struggled to break into the first team, starting only a handful of games, and failing to find the net during his spell.

For a player who had interest from Manchester United and Chelsea before making the move, the experience must be particularly bruising. What was meant to be a career springboard has instead become a setback. The lack of minutes, the stagnation in development, and the brutal competitiveness of West Ham’s attacking options have all contributed to what many now consider a “stalled career”.

There is frustration not only from Ferguson’s camp but among fans who believed in the player’s potential. As he returns to Brighton, his future hangs in the balance. Will Roberto De Zerbi (or a new manager) find a role for him? Or will Ferguson have to look elsewhere perhaps abroad for a club willing to invest in his development?

Financial Realities and Emotional Returns

While Soler and Ferguson share the same exit door, their financial realities are worlds apart. Soler’s wages at PSG make him one of the highest-paid loanees to ever play for West Ham. That wage disparity ten times higher than Ferguson’s £20,000 a week highlights the economic roadblocks that stood in the way of a permanent move for the Spaniard.

And yet, for all his wealth, Soler is choosing a return to his roots over another big-money move. His desire to feel “the love” again, to play for fans who remember him not as a journeyman but as a homegrown talent, says something about football that money can’t buy: emotional connection.

West Ham’s summer clear-out signals a transition for the club, but for the players heading out, it could be the beginning of something more. For Carlos Soler, a return to Valencia is a chance to write a second chapter at the club where it all began perhaps even with a captain’s armband and the new stadium as his stage.

For Evan Ferguson, the story is more complex. He must now dig deep, reassess, and decide whether to stay and fight for his place at Brighton or seek a fresh start elsewhere. The talent is there, but confidence must be rebuilt, and that may require bold decisions.

In football, sometimes you need to leave to be appreciated. And sometimes, the road home is where the real