Jarrod Bowen exclusive: 'I call myself an adopted West Ham boy' – Hammers star proud to be an Eastender
Updated 20/09/2024 at 12:08 GMT+1
Jarrod Bowen has become one of the faces of West Ham since arriving in East London from Hull City in January 2020, and he says the club feels like home. The forward was made skipper by new boss Julen Lopetegui having signed a new contract until 2030. He met with Hammers fan Chesney Hawkes to discuss what the club means to him ahead of West Ham v Chelsea, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
'You have been adopted as one of us!' - In My Blood: Hawkes meets Bowen
Video credit: TNT Sports
Jarrod Bowen has joined pie, mash and jellied eels as part of the furniture at West Ham since arriving in east London in January 2020.
The forward's 44 goals in 170 Premier League games have helped him break into the England squad, while off the pitch he is engaged to the daughter of local legend and Hammers fan Danny Dyer.
Bowen, originally from Herefordshire, looks set to light up the London Stadium for years to come after signing a new seven-year contract in October 2023.
And following a fantastic first four years with West Ham, the England international says he feels like he has become an adopted Eastender.
"I do call myself an adopted West Ham boy," Bowen told West Ham fan and singer Chesney Hawkes during an interview for the TNT Sports series 'In My Blood' ahead of West Ham v Chelsea, live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on Saturday.
"I love it here, on the pitch and off the pitch, everything.
"I have a really happy family, yeah, it has all been an upward trajectory since I have been here.
"Obviously I signed my new contract last year and I have not come off that page. I am 27 now, so I have still got a lot of football left to play, and I am going to enjoy my best years here."
Bowen helped end West Ham's 43-year wait for a European trophy with a last-minute winner in the 2023 Europa Conference League final.
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'Lead by example' - Bowen on what kind of captain he wants to be
Video credit: TNT Sports
He is already off the mark for the Hammers this season too, having scored in their 1-0 win over Bournemouth in the League Cup last month.
Bowen may not have been born in east London, but his dad, Sam Bowen, did nearly sign for the club while Harry Redknapp was at the helm.
"I believe so, [that his dad had a trial with West Ham], I can't remember what year it was now, it was a long time ago," said Bowen.
"He was a non-league striker, pretty old school, he tries to tell me about some of the tricks that he had back in the day.
"He tells me to use them when I play upfront, but that would probably have got me a 10-game ban with some of the stuff he has told me to do.
"I know he had a trial game and I think he did well, they wanted to sign him, but where he was at was asking for a certain amount of money.
"In the end, it obviously did not come to anything. I find things like that strange sometimes, how my dad almost played for West Ham."
West Ham are currently 14th in the Premier League table with four points from four fixtures.
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Bowen was made Hammers captain in August and will be hoping to lead the club into an exciting new future following the departure of David Moyes and the arrival of new head coach Julen Lopetegui.
Bowen admits he wants to show his team-mates what it means to play for West Ham.
"I think as a captain you can do it in loads of different ways," he added.
"I think the way I play is to always show people what it means to play for this club and to try and lead by example in that way.
"When things are not going well, can I work hard for the team, can I score goals or set goals up and lead by example?"
How to watch West Ham United v Chelsea
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