Before the season
Coming into the 2021/22 season, Bowen was looking to build on his success in the season prior, where he was an essential part of David Moyes' push for UEFA Europa League qualification.
Bowen joined the club from Hull City in January 2020, providing immediate impact to help West Ham avoid relegation. He brought that momentum in his first full season in the 2020/21 campaign, scoring eight and assisting six in 40 appearances, and was involved in every Premier League match for the Hammers.
Bowen looked to the 2021/22 campaign as an opportunity to cement his position, and improve his already impressive goalscoring record.
How did 2021/22 go?
Bowen's 2021/22 season was the most successful of his career, both individually and in terms of club success, where he was able to score 18 goals and generate 13 assists whilst missing just five of the club's matches.
The winger made his European debut in the Irons' UEFA Europa League Group H victory over Dinamo Zagreb on 16 September 2021 and would go on to score three times in West Ham's European campaign, including goals in both legs of the quarter-final tie against Olympique Lyonnais.
2021/22 highlights
Bowen had a hatful of outstanding performances, one of the most impressive being the brace he scored against Manchester City on 15 May 2022, in spite of their push for the title, earning the Hammers a hard-fought 2-2 draw
His goals in both legs of the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals against Olympique Lyonnais were vital in qualifying for the semi-finals with Eintracht Frankfurt, the repeat fixture of West Ham's previous European semi-final in 1976.
His performances this season earned him a nomination for the Premier League Player of the Season, amongst elite company. Further, he was called-up by England for the first time for four 2022-23 UEFA Nations League ties this month.
Standout stat
Bowen is the first West Ham player to reach double digits in the Premier League in both goals and assists since Paolo Di Canio in the 1999/2000 season.
Season by Numbers
Appearances: 51 (36 Premier League, 9 UEFA Europa League, 3 FA Cup, 3 EFL Cup)
Goals: 18 (12 Premier League, 3 UEFA Europa League, 2 FA Cup, 1 EFL Cup)
Assists: 13 (12 Premier League, 1 UEFA Europa League
Next up in 2022/23?
Bowen will look to continue his fine form into next season, with qualification to the UEFA Conference League providing another opportunity to fight for European glory for the Hammers.
In addition, achieving his first international call-up to the England squad will motivate him yet further, in order to persuade Gareth Southgate to include him in the squad for the FIFA World Cup finals in the winter.
by Oliver Blair