Michail Antonio signs with Al-Sailiya after lengthy recovery
Michail Antonio has reached an agreement to join Qatari Stars League outfit Al-Sailiya on a short-term contract, marking his return to club football after a 14-month absence following a severe road accident, reports BritPanorama.
The 35-year-old former West Ham forward will participate in Al-Sailiya’s final six fixtures of the campaign, which runs until April. Official confirmation of the transfer is expected within the coming days.
Antonio sustained multiple fractures to his leg during a collision in December 2024. He crashed his £260,000 Ferrari FF, which struck trees in Epping, Essex. This transfer represents a crucial milestone in his remarkable recovery from injuries that had placed his football career in jeopardy.
During his tenure at West Ham, Antonio made 323 appearances and scored 83 goals before his contract expired last summer. The Hammers opted not to renew his deal following the accident, though he did return briefly to action with the club’s under-21 side, scoring twice in his first match back.
Since leaving the east London club, the striker worked diligently to regain his fitness with various Championship teams, including training stints with Brentford, Leicester, and Charlton. Despite these efforts and discussions with multiple clubs, no permanent agreement was reached until Al-Sailiya expressed interest.
Charlton had been in advanced negotiations regarding a pay-as-you-play arrangement, but those talks were paused after a medical assessment. Leicester had come close to securing his services earlier this year, but those negotiations collapsed when Antonio sustained a hamstring injury during training.
Portsmouth manager John Mousinho also contemplated signing Antonio, while Brentford held separate discussions for a return to the Premier League. However, these talks similarly failed to produce an agreement. In June, Antonio’s competitive comeback began with three substitute appearances for Jamaica in the Concacaf Gold Cup, his first matches since the accident.
In a March interview with the BBC, Antonio described the crash as a brush with death, expressing gratitude for being given “another chance at life”. Following his release from West Ham, he took on a punditry role and is confirmed as part of TNT Sports’ coverage for the 2025/26 season. His new club currently occupies ninth position in the Qatari league, sitting four points clear of the relegation zone, with former Everton defender Mason Holgate in their squad.
As Antonio embarks on this new chapter in Qatar, it serves as a reminder of football’s unpredictable journey and the resilience required to navigate its highs and lows.
