 West Ham , on their return to the Premier League , signed former players James Colllins and George McCartney on permanent deals , as well as record signing Matt Jarvis and Andy Carroll on loan . They won their first game of the season , on 18 August 2012 , 1 – 0 against Aston Villa thanks to a Kevin Nolan goal . The highlight of the first half of the season was a 3 – 1 home win against reigning European champions Chelsea on 1 December 2012 which saw them in eighth position and 12th at the end of the year . On 22 March 2013 , West Ham secured a 99 @-@ year lease deal on the Olympic Stadium , with it planned to be used as their home ground from the 2016 – 17 season . Tenth place was secured at the end of the season with nine home wins and only three away from home . Only 11 away goals were scored , the lowest of the entire league . In June 2013 , West Ham again broke their record transfer fee with the signing of Andy Carroll on a six @-@ year contract for a fee of £ 15 million . 
