West Ham started the season on 17 August with a home game against Aston Villa. Amadou Onana scored a headed goal for Aston Villa in the fourth minute but Lucas Paquetá equalised with a penalty in the 37th minute after Tomáš Souček had been fouled by Matty Cash. In the 79th minute, Jhon Durán, who had been the subject of a possible transfer to West Ham, scored to make it 2–1 to Aston Villa, the final score.