Ipswich Town's Premier League rivals West Ham have announced Graham Potter as their new manager.

The move comes after the long-rumoured sacking of Julen Lopetegui, who's final match in charge of the Hammers was a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City last weekend. He leaves East London with his side sitting 14th in the table, seven points above the Blues in the last relegation spot.

Potter comes back into management for the first time since 2023, having struggled at Chelsea after a successful stint at Brighton. He was linked with a number of jobs over the summer, including the England national team, but nothing has materialised until now.

Reports suggest that he has signed a two-and-a-half year deal. He'll be joined by Bruno Saltor and Billy Reid as part of his backroom staff, while former Stoke City boss Narcís Pèlach, who was sacked by the Potters just after Christmas, will also join as a first-team coach.

“I am delighted to be here," Potter said. "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.

Potter's first game in charge will be away at Aston Villa in the FA Cup (Image: PA)

“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.”

Ipswich were beaten 4-1 by Lopetegui's West Ham in their most recent clash at the London Stadium. The two sides will meet again at Portman Road on the final day of the campaign at the end of May.