Kamarai Swyer has only known West Ham United since he was eight years old, but for the first time in nearly 13 years, the young winger will not be playing in Claret and Blue this season.
Instead, for 2023/24, Swyer’s football will be played in Sussex, with the 20-year-old taking on a season-long at EFL League Two outfit Crawley Town.
Having signed a new two-year contract with the Hammers earlier this week, Swyer is looking forward to the season ahead. This is another step on his footballing journey but the first he has made away from east London.
“It will be different because all I have known is West Ham,” Swyer explains. “But at this stage of my career, I am ready for a change and to put myself into new challenges which will help me grow as a person and a footballer.
"When I first came here at the age of eight, all I wanted to be was a professional footballer so I have achieved that dream, but I know it is time to kick on again.
“I want to get that experience of playing week in and week out and help the team do well. Hopefully, when I return, I can use that to fight for a place in the senior team at West Ham."
Having signed a contract until the summer of 2025 prior to the loan, the Club hopes that is the case for such a talented youngster as well.
Swyer is a tricky winger. In the pre-season tour to Australia, we saw a player who can send his opponent in different directions. As we saw in Premier League last season, he also has an eye for goal too.
In November last year, performances for Mark Robson's development side earned Swyer his first team debut. He played the final 13 minutes as a substitute at FCSB in the UEFA Europa Conference League group stages.
His debut was a night he will never forget. Thirteen Academy graduates in action as West Ham qualified for the UEFA Europa Conference League knockout rounds, with six wins from six group stage matches.
Swyer was one of four players from Chadwell Heath to make their first team debuts. Ollie Scarles, Divin Mubama and Kaelan Casey complete the list.
“When the manager called me my legs were jelly at that point,” Swyer adds. “The stadium was rocking, it was so loud.
“I knew I would feel a bit nervous and that my heart would drop when the manager told me to get ready. But I think when I got on the pitch, I blocked everything out and just told myself it's just football at the end of the day.
"It was great to have my U21s teammates on the pitch. You felt so comfortable when you looked up and saw Keenan[Appiah-Forson] and Freddie [Potts]."
Swyer's calmness oozes on and off the field. He is relaxed but with a mentality that always pushes himself to take risks and challenge himself.
What is clear is that he is taking that same mindset to Sussex, where this competitive debut could come on Saturday 5 August in the club's League Two opener at home to Bradford City.
“It's been a crazy journey, I’ve been here since I was eight,” Swyer states. “There have been many ups and downs but I have loved my time here and am happy that it will continue.
"I hope to come back as a more reliable player and the Gaffer will see that too. He will have that trust in me because I have done it in men's football.
“It all starts with how I apply myself and make sure that I work hard so I can play as many games as possible.”
