“I didn’t expect this, I should have listen”- Divin Mubama breaks silence on what went wrong after leaving West Ham”

Divin Mubama Reflects on Manchester City Spell and Early Success at Stoke City

Now on loan at Stoke City, former West Ham United prospect Divin Mubama admits he has one lingering regret from his brief time at Manchester City — a lack of first-team opportunities.

The 20-year-old striker made the move from West Ham to City in the summer of 2024 after failing to agree a new contract with his boyhood club. Having already featured 18 times for the Hammers’ senior side, Mubama left behind a promising pathway to join a squad packed with world-class talent — a decision that drew skepticism from many who feared his minutes would be limited.

As it turned out, those concerns proved accurate. Despite an impressive return of 16 goals in 14 Premier League 2 games for City’s reserves, Mubama made just two senior appearances under Pep Guardiola before heading to Stoke on loan this past July.

Mubama: “You learn so much” under Pep Guardiola

Speaking to the Stoke Sentinel, Mubama reflected on his time at the Etihad — describing it as a valuable learning experience, even if he wished for more time on the pitch.

“You learn so much,” he said. “Pep’s passion for football is something I already knew, but being a sponge in that environment, learning different things — especially from Erling [Haaland] — has really developed my game.

“I obviously didn’t play as much as I would like, but I was surprised by how much you can learn in training. Taking that into my career moving forward is massive and will play a big part in my development.”

Bright Start at Stoke City

Mubama hit the ground running after joining Mark Robins’ Stoke City side, scoring a towering header on his Championship debut against Derby County and finding the net again versus Sheffield Wednesday the following week.

However, both goals — and wins — have been harder to come by since late September. Even so, the England U21 striker remains upbeat and focused on growth.

“I’ve really enjoyed it here,” he said. “I came in with an open mind, knowing I needed to learn my craft and improve every game. The manager’s advice has been brilliant — especially because he was a striker himself. You can really relate to him.”

Aaron Cresswell on Mentoring Mubama

Veteran full-back Aaron Cresswell, another former West Ham man now at Stoke, has taken on a mentoring role with Mubama and the club’s younger players.

“I speak a lot with Divin — he’s just starting out and has so much potential,” Cresswell told reporters. “It goes so fast. You want to enjoy every moment, and if I can pass on any experience to help him, I will.”

Cresswell, a Europa Conference League winner with West Ham, also praised Mubama’s character and attitude.

“It didn’t quite work out for him at West Ham, and he’s gone to Man City, but I’m really looking forward to seeing how he does this season. He’s got all the attributes to be a top striker — he’s humble, hardworking, and determined.”

The 34-year-old recalled Mubama’s early days at West Ham, when the teenager first caught the eye during a pre-season tour.

“He was only 17, coming up against Craig Dawson — a big, physical defender — and he just went flying into tackles,” Cresswell laughed. “I remember thinking, ‘Yeah, this kid’s got something about him.’ And now look at him.”

Despite the challenges of breaking into Manchester City’s senior squad, Mubama appears to have taken valuable lessons from his time there.

Now thriving under Mark Robins’ guidance, the young striker looks determined to turn those experiences into progress — and prove he’s ready to make his mark in English football.