When we signed Aaron Cresswell from Ipswich Town for £3.75m in July 2014, it was a decent amount of money, but not a huge spend. He was 24 at the time and had been one of Ipswich’s best players for a couple of seasons, making the Championship Team of the Season. Before playing for Ipswich, he’d started his professional career at Tranmere Rovers, the local lad working his way through the youth system.
Cresswell made an instant impact in his first season with us – playing every minute of the 2014/15 season and winning Hammer of the Year. He became a fan favourite as a reliable defender with the ability to whip in dangerous crosses with his left foot, and fast forward 11 years, and he is still plying his trade at West Ham, as part of an old and tiring squad.
The Longest Serving Link to the Noble Era
He is the longest serving player on West Ham’s books, and one of the few remaining links to the Mark Noble-era – being a close friend of Mr West Ham. Cresswell has been the go-to left back for the majority of the past 11 years, being the first choice of several managers. He has been renowned for his crossing ability, precise long passes, and versatility. Capable of playing as a traditional left-back or as part of a three-man defence, his adaptability has been a crucial asset for West Ham.
Set-Piece Mastery and Defensive Consistency
His set-piece delivery has been among the best at the club across his 11 years, making him a constant threat in offensive situations. Defensively, Cresswell exhibited a strong positional sense, effective tackling, and interception skills. His consistency in performance, combined with his physical fitness and tactical discipline, has made him a reliable figure in West Ham’s defensive lineup.
At his peak we saw Cresswell as a very solid left-back who could pick out a cross-field pass and whip in some great free kicks. This ability to cross a ball, as well as his defending has been vital, providing over 30 assists in the Premier League – his best season total being eight assists in the 2020/21 season. In his 300 appearances, he has been part of five top 10 Premier League finishes, several European runs, and of course the 2023 Conference League victory. Cresswell also snuck in three England caps, between 2016 and 2017.
Transitioning Roles in a Difficult Campaign
This season, at the time of writing, he has 13 Premier League appearances (six starts and six sub appearances). He is no longer even back-up left back, with the position being shared between Emerson, and the emerging Scarles. During those 13 games, he played 540 minutes, and we managed four clean sheets.
He has been shifted from left back, to left-sided centre back, using his years of experience to put in some decent performances in what has been a poor season for the team overall. Potter clearly appreciated Cresswell’s tactical understanding, and his ability to read the game as part of a back three.
Time for Youth to Lead the Way
Cresswell has been a great servant for the club – £3.75 million well spent, but as he has aged, his performances have dropped off. Cresswell has always been known for his crossing and his free kicks, but as a defender he has been solid, not known for his pace, or ability to intercept key passes. The Premier League has seen the rise of the dynamic all-performance left back, and that isn’t Cresswell – he doesn’t have the pace or physical dominance needed.
Think Leighton Baines as opposed to Antonee Robinson. He is now 35 and I’m sure was hoping for another contract extension. I would have moved him on when Wolves came sniffing around a couple of years back. Although he is a senior figure among the players, it feels like he is well beyond his best, and I would rather see more youth players (like Scarles) brought on.
Potter has used him in that centre back role since coming in, but it always felt like a sticking plaster, and now he is to be let go at the end of the season.
Looking Ahead: A Slower Squad in Transition
As is widely known, we have the oldest squad in the Premier League, and also one of the slowest. It will be interesting to see where Cresswell ends up next season. I wish him all the best.
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