Title: The Rare Art of the Goal-Making Keeper: West Ham’s Three Premier League Specialists
In the long and storied history of West Ham United in the English Premier League, goalkeepers are usually remembered for their shot-stopping heroics, their clean sheets, or their commanding presence on the line. But there is a much rarer contribution — the goalkeeper assist — and only three Hammers shot-stoppers have ever registered one in the Premier League. This quirky stat underlines how unusual it is for a keeper not just to prevent goals, but to help create them.
1. Jussi Jääskeläinen
The pioneering figure is Jussi Jääskeläinen, the legendary Finnish goalkeeper. On New Year’s Day in 2014, he provided the very first Premier League assist by a West Ham goalkeeper. His long clearance found Mohamed Diamé, who went on to score against Fulham. (premierleague.com)
Jääskeläinen was with the club for many seasons, and this moment remains a standout contribution beyond his many crucial saves.
2. Joe Hart
The second keeper to pull off this feat was none other than Joe Hart. In October 2017, playing for West Ham, Hart’s accurate long pass released Michail Antonio at Burnley, who rounded the goalkeeper and slotted home. (premierleague.com)
Hart’s assist came after a long wait — it was his first in the Premier League after more than 300 appearances in the competition. (premierleague.com)
This moment showed that even goalkeepers known primarily for defense can become unexpected architects of attack.
3. Alphonse Areola
The most recent addition to this exclusive club is Alphonse Areola, who secured his place in West Ham folklore in the 2025/26 season. In a 2–2 draw against Bournemouth, he stepped outside his box and launched a long ball that eventually led to a Callum Wilson goal. (sports.yahoo.com)
Areola’s assist made headlines not just because it solved a goal-scoring play, but because it underlined his boldness and technical range — he became just the third ever goalkeeper for West Ham to do so in the Premier League.
Why It Matters
These assists are not merely statistical footnotes. They highlight a special blend of vision, timing, and technical skill. For goalkeepers, assisting a goal means reading the game in reverse: not just defending, but launching counterattacks and catching the opposition off guard.
- Jääskeläinen’s contribution came in a more traditional era, relying on pure distribution.
- Hart, a veteran of many high-pressure games, showed that even experienced keepers can create something unexpected.
- Areola, meanwhile, reflects the modern evolution of the role — a keeper comfortable on the ball and willing to take risks.
That only three goalkeepers have achieved this for West Ham in over three decades of Premier League action tells you just how rare and special the feat is. Rather than just guarding the net, these men rewrote the script — if only for a moment — by helping their team score.
Conclusion
In a league where goalkeepers are judged primarily on what they prevent, the fact that only three West Ham men in goal have ever recorded an assist makes them something of artistic outliers. Jääskeläinen, Hart, and Areola didn’t just make saves — they played with creative intent, reminding us that in football, even the most defensive players can leave an attacking legacy.
