Following confirmation that Michail Antonio was involved in a tragic vehicle accident on Saturday, West Ham United has requested privacy for the striker and his family.
After pictures of a wrecked Ferrari in Essex went viral on social media, the club released an update. Antonio was reportedly taken to the hospital, and the car had sustained significant damage.
Following a traffic collision this afternoon in the Essex region, West Ham United can report that Michail Antonio is in a stable condition, according to a club representative. Michail is presently being closely monitored at a hospital in central London and is cognizant and able to communicate.
Devastating news about Michail Antonio, who has been airlifted to hospital after a serious car crash.
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) December 7, 2024
Moments like these a reminder that football means nothing.
Sending love and health to Michail, his family, Jamaica fans and the entire West Ham community 🙏⚒️🇯🇲 pic.twitter.com/w2FP6BtfMp
We respectfully request that everyone respect Michail and his family’s privacy at this trying time. The club will provide a further update when it is appropriate, but it will not speak further tonight.
Antonio, a native of Wandsworth in south London, started his senior career in non-league football with his hometown team Tooting & Mitcham after his mother turned down a trial offer from Tottenham when he was 14. He then progressed through the divisions, playing for Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, and Nottingham Forest while on loan at Cheltenham, Southampton, and Colchester.
Since joining West Ham in 2015, he has become a favorite among Hammers fans. He was originally signed as a winger, but his flexibility allowed him to play center-forward, offensive full-back, and midfield before assuming the No. 9 shirt. He contributed to the team’s 2023 Europa Conference League victory, which was their first significant honor since 1980. Antonio, 34, has remained his team’s top scorer despite other players being acquired to replace him. His dedication and taste for the big event are valued. In 323 Hammers games, he has scored 83 goals.
Antonio, a Jamaican international, first said that he wanted to play for England. He was included in the squads of both Gareth Southgate and his former Hammers boss Sam Allardyce, but he never played. He participated in the 2024 Copa América after being granted a Jamaican passport in 2021.
Away from sport, Antonio, a father of four, and his buddy Callum Wilson, a striker for Newcastle, co-host the Footballer’s sport Podcast, a BBC program that offers listeners the players’ perspectives on their line of work.
On Monday night, West Ham will host Wolves in the Premier League.
