Stuck in a dead end at West Ham United, Josh Cullen decided that enough was enough in 2020, and left his childhood club.
He had been there since 2005, graduating from their academy before going on a number of loans in the lower leagues to acquire first-team experience, but with the likes of Mark Noble in front of him, there was little room for him.
Thus, a move to Anderlecht in Belgium was put together, with the Jupiler Pro League side paying £450k for the Republic of Ireland international, and he has enjoyed himself ever since.
Starting every single game in the league under Vincent Kompany, the 25-year-old is a key member of the first-team, but he has a contract until 2023, which is why his future is now being talked about.
There’s still another year left, but if Anderlecht decide to sell, this summer will be the one where Cullen moves on.
He said: “Of course it would be a dream to play in the Premier League again. As a footballer, you need to want to play against the best players in the best league, and the best league is the Premier League.”
As for whether he wants to return to West Ham in particular, he added: “I know the club like the back of my hand. I’ve been a fan since I was a kid. I even went to see Genk-West Ham in the Europa League and spoke with the guys after the game.
“Mark Noble is having having an amazing career and he taught me a lot, but it’s a closed chapter for me. As soon as I signed for Anderlecht, I turned the page and focused on Sporting.”
So, maybe not a return to West Ham, but seeing as he is the most used player in the Jupiler Pro League to date, there’s clearly something there, and it wouldn’t be surprising if someone from England decided to have a look at him in the summer.
