Former Reading defender Graham Potter has returned to Premier League management, taking over at West Ham United.

The 49-year-old played four times for the Royals in 1999 during an 11-year playing career across the English Football League.

Best-known as a manager, Potter came to fame as boss of Swedish side Ostersund but returned to British football with Swansea City in 2018.

Since then, he has enjoyed three years with Brighton and Hove Albion, earning plaudits for his style of play, before joining giants Chelsea.

Replacing Champions League winner, and new England boss Thomas Tuchel, at Stamford Bridge, Potter saw out less than one year of his five-year contract and was sacked in April 2023.

West Ham, who were under the management former Spain and Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui, sit 14th in the Premier League and sacked the experienced boss this week.

Potter signs a two-and-a-half year deal at the London Stadium and takes charge of tomorrow's FA Cup clash with Aston Villa.

The new Head Coach said: “I am delighted to be here. It was important to me that I waited until a job came along that I felt was right for me, and equally that I was the right fit for the Club I am joining. That is the feeling I have with West Ham United.

“My conversations with the Chairman and the Board have been very positive and constructive, we share the same values of hard work and high energy to create the solid foundations that can produce success, and we are on the same wavelength in terms of what is needed in the short-term and then how we want to move the Club forward in the medium to long term.

“West Ham United is a huge Club, at the heart of London, with a tremendous fanbase and great support all around the world. I saw the scenes that followed their Europa Conference League victory in 2023 and it was clear that this is a Club with everything in place to become consistently successful, both on and off the pitch.

“The Club have made a lot of good progress in recent years and ensured there are some very strong foundations in place to build on. You don’t win a European trophy by fluke – there has to be a good bedrock at a football club for that to happen, and the challenge now is to take that on and build the next steps, to develop a team and a Club that the supporters can be proud of.”