West Ham United have asked for privacy for Michail Antonio and his family after confirming that the striker was involved in a serious car accident on Saturday.

The club issued an update after images were circulated on social media of a smashed Ferrari in Essex. The vehicle had suffered extensive damage and there were unconfirmed reports that Antonio was airlifted to hospital.

A club spokesperson said: “West Ham United can confirm that Michail Antonio is in a stable condition following a road traffic accident this afternoon in the Essex area. Michail is conscious and communicating and is currently under close supervision at a central London hospital.

“At this difficult time, we kindly ask everyone to respect the privacy of Michail and his family. The club will make no further comment this evening, but will issue a further update in due course.”

A statement from Essex Fire Service said: “Crews were called to High Road, Epping, at 1.02pm this afternoon after reports of a road traffic collision involving one car. In arrival, firefighters reported that a man was trapped in his car and worked to release him by 1.45pm. The casualty was left in the care of the Ambulance Service.”

A further statement from Essex Police added: “Officers investigating a serious collision in Epping are asking for witnesses and dash cam footage. We were called shortly after 12.50pm on Saturday 7 December to Coppice Row, Epping, following reports of what is believed to be a single vehicle collision involving a Ferrari.

“Emergency services attended and the driver has been taken to hospital. The vehicle has been recovered and we are no longer on scene.”

Antonio, from Wandsworth in south London, his mother having rejected a trial at Tottenham when he was 14, began his senior career in non-league with his local club Tooting & Mitcham, before climbing through the divisions, playing for Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest, with loans at Cheltenham, Southampton and Colchester.

He joined West Ham in 2015 and has long been a favourite with Hammers supporters. Signed as a winger his versatility saw him play attacking full-back, in midfield and eventually centre-forward, eventually making the No 9 shirt his own.

In 2023 he helped the club win the Europa Conference League, the club’s first major trophy since 1980. At 34, despite a number of players being bought to supplant him, Antonio has remained his club’s frontline striker, appreciated for his whole-heartedness and taste for the big occasion. He has scored 83 goals in 323 Hammers appearances.

View image in fullscreen

Antonio is a Jamaica international who initially declared ambitions to play for England. He was part of squad selections for both Sam Allardyce, his former Hammers manager, and then Gareth Southgate but never made an appearance. In 2021 he received a Jamaican passport, and played at the 2024 Copa América.

In a statement from the Jamaican Football Federation, Steve McClaren, the national team head coach, said: “On behalf of the entire group of players, support staff and technical staff, I would like to wish Michail a speedy recovery.”

Away from football, Antonio, a father of four, co-hosts the Footballer’s Football Podcast, a BBC production, with his friend Callum Wilson, the Newcastle striker, giving listeners the players’ point of view on their profession.

West Ham are due to play at home to Wolves in the Premier League on Monday night.

• West Ham United
• news