Max Kilman opens up on swapping non-league for Premier League and how his MUM pushed him through his footballing journey to become West Ham’s £40m star defender

Hard work. These are two words Max Kilman uses repeatedly. His journey from non-league to the Premier League, from amateur to professional, from student to £40million defender, has required many things – talent, belief and support from his coaches and family to name a few.

But the key to it all, and perhaps the reason Julen Lopetegui wanted to bring him to West Ham this summer, was hard work.

“I’ve always tried to do my best and when I was playing at amateur level I never expected to get this far,” Kilman told Mail Sport.

“I’ve taken it easy and every obstacle I’ve overcome and everything I’ve achieved, I’ve always wanted to look forward and progress. Now that I’m here, I want to keep improving and go as far as I can with the team.”

Kilman was halfway through his business and sports management studies when he swapped Maidenhead for Wolves in 2018 for a paltry £40,000.

The club have cleverly inserted a sell-on clause for any future move. Although the exact amounts have been kept secret, Maidenhead have described the money they will receive as ‘life-changing’.

Kilman, however, seems a little embarrassed to highlight his role in helping his former team. He laughs when asked if anyone has called to thank him, but instead turns the focus back to how he is going to live up to his high price tag.

“Of course it’s good for them. That’s how football works. My route is very different from other players.

‘A [transfer] ‘Appreciation is appreciation, but my focus is that I have to do my best and that’s how I’ve always been. I get pressure and I have to perform, but I’m more than capable of handling it.’

Kilman’s connections to West Ham go back further than you might think. ‘I don’t think many people know that I lived in West Ham until I was nine,’ says the 27-year-old.

But it’s not just youth that connects West Ham to Kilman. His manager at Maidenhead was Alan Devonshire, who made over 300 appearances for the Hammers between 1976 and 1990 and was part of the team that won the FA Cup in 1986.

“He called me and said what a great club West Ham are,” Kilman said of Devonshire, who is still manager of Maidenhead.

‘He did really well when he was here and he’s a legend at the club. During my time at Maidenhead he would often talk about his time at West Ham and he’s only said good things.’

Kilman’s move to West Ham was partly motivated by his desire to reunite with Lopetegui, his former manager at Wolves.

The Spaniard, who Kilman made captain before leaving the club last summer, is known for his intensity on the training pitch and expecting maximum effort from his players, as evidenced by the fact that his squad were given just one day off during their training camp in Florida.

He also hopes Kilman can bring stability to a defence that went 17 games without a clean sheet in the second half of the season.

“I’ve worked with him before and he’s done some great things with me at Wolves. I knew when I worked with him again his standards were really high and his management style is about getting the best out of players. He was definitely someone I wanted to continue working with.

“He likes to play with high pressure and a lot of possession. He wants his players to work very hard. That is definitely what you can expect from West Ham this season.”

Kilman was born in London, but his parents, Maria and Alex, are originally from Ukraine. Alex, who died in 2020, played a key role in his development, comforting him when he was released by Fulham and pushing him to overcome his self-doubt.

Maria played an equally important role, but also made sure her son had a safety net by getting his diploma.

‘My mum pushed me more than anyone to get over that. When I got my degree I was playing non-league football and I didn’t know where my career or my path in life was going to be, so I always wanted to have that back-up option.

‘I became a professional footballer when I had one year left, so I took my time, but my mother eventually forced me into it!’

Kilman graduated in March, but it’s unlikely we’ll see him in a cap and gown. The ceremony is scheduled for September.

‘I have the diploma but I don’t think I can go to the ceremony because it’s during the season. Hopefully they can send it [the gown] “For me! That would be nice.”

Kilman looked to the European Championships this summer with a sense of what might have been. He has spoken before of his desire to play for England, but if it had not been for his previous futsal career, he could have represented Ukraine.

Former national team manager Andriy Shevchenko approached FIFA about the possibility of Kilman switching clubs in 2021, but the defender’s 25 international appearances for the England futsal team between the ages of 18 and 21 made him unplayable.

So it’s England or nothing. Kilman has come close to a call-up in the past and while he acknowledges there is plenty of competition, he is determined not to give up on his country.

‘As a player this is of course my ambition, I have always wanted to play for England.

‘At the moment I just want to make sure I do my best for West Ham. If that can happen in the future, that would be great.’

When asked what West Ham fans can expect from him this season, Kilman’s answer is simple: ‘Hard work, 110 per cent commitment and always giving my best.’