West Ham United is delighted to announce that nine promising talents have signed full-time scholarship contracts with the Academy of Football ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Olanrewaju Awesu, Majid Balogun, Lewis Beckford, David Chigwada, Andre Dike, Airidas Golambeckis, Finley Hooper, Aaron Kamara, Chinaza Nwosu and Jonathan Unwin were joined by family and friends as they put pen to paper at the Academy’s historic Chadwell Heath training ground.
Goalkeepers Awesu and Hooper, defenders Golambeckis and Kamara, midfielders Beckford, Nwosu and Unwin and forward Dike have all progressed through the Academy of Football ranks, having impressed at U16 level, while Golambeckis and Dike have already featured at U21 and U18 level respectively. Forwards Balogun and Chigwada have joined West Ham this summer, having previously been with Manchester United and Manchester City’s Academies respectively.
All nine will now begin their scholarships at Chadwell Heath, where they will receive coaching, educational support, guidance and mentoring as they continue their careers in Claret and Blue.
As they began their lives as full-time players, Academy Manager Kenny Brown explained what each player and their family can expect from the programme, while U18s coaches Lauris Coggin and Zavon Hines, who came through his own scholarship between 2005-07 and went on to play 31 first-team games for the Hammers, also made presentations.
Brown said the signing of a new intake of scholars each summer was a proud and exciting time for everyone associated with the Academy.
“Our annual induction evening for our new scholars is a celebration of these players,” Academy Manager Brown, who served his own scholarship at Norwich City in the 1980s, explained. “I think that when they first come in and start playing football, the incentive is that you want to become a scholar. Some of these boys started their journeys with us at Under-9s, so they have come all the way through the system and have reached a big milestone and signing a scholarship.
“They’ve definitely earned it. It’s a big achievement, but it is also a celebration for the player and their families, as they have worked extremely hard and shown a lot of dedication over a long period of time.
“This is their job now. There are a lot more eyes on them as they are here full-time, but they are going to love these next two years. Looking back on my time as a scholar, they were the best two years of my life. We have got fantastic staff here, so we’re here to support them, guide them, and let’s see how far each one of them can go.”
While the players will receive constant support and encouragement from Academy staff, as full-time scholars, Brown said the teenagers themselves will increasingly have to show their own characters and personalities as they work towards what they each hope will be a first professional contract.
“There is a responsibility now and they are accountable for their actions and behaviours as they are now representing West Ham United as part of the full-time programme with us”. He continued. “They are a good group, want to learn and already within the space of their first week they have shown an appetite that they want to learn and grow into this environment.
“There will be challenges along the way such as lack of form, not being in the team, being injured and other circumstances away from the pitch in their personal lives, but I am completely convinced that we have the staff here that will help and support them in every way.
“We have got some real talent. This is the foundation for where they are going to go on and we want to be in the position in two years’ time to be offering them professional contracts. Every day will be a chance for them to impress whether that’s in training, the classroom or in the gym, but they will enjoy being around the fantastic staff we have here and the environment that has been created. We understand these days and moments are great to build resilience for what is going to be needed going forward if they are going to have any longevity in the game.
“These are nights where you look back with pride with the people who have done so much in getting these players here. It’s a proud moment because this is the next crop of young players, and you always wonder who out of this group will go on and become a first-team player at West Ham United because that is what we want and what they [the players] want as well. Who knows, we may have the next Mark Noble within this crop of players.”
Meet the summer 2024 scholar intake
Academy Manager Kenny Brown offers an assessment of each of the ten new full-time scholars...
Olanrewaju Awesu
Lanre joined the Academy of Football only two years ago, but he has impressed everyone with his attitude and shot stopping. He is a giant of a goalkeeper who commands his area with real presence.
Majid Balogun
London-born Majid has signed from Manchester United, where he had spent the previous two seasons. He is an exciting, quick wide player who can also score his fair share of goals.
Lewis Beckford
Local-born Lewis has been with the Academy since Under-9s. He is a gifted, left-footed midfielder, who displays superb close control, great balance and high technical ability.
David Chigwada
David joins us from Manchester City, where he was a prolific scorer over the past two seasons, after being signed from Blackburn Rovers at Under-14 level. He is a quick, aggressive runner who can play wide and down the middle.
Andre Dike
Andre is an intelligent player who can play wide or as a striker. He likes to combine and link with other players, while also having excellent dribbling and finishing skills of his own.
Airidas Golambeckis
Airidas is an elegant, ball-playing centre-back, who is just as comfortable in midfield. He is a Lithuanian youth International who has already played at U18 and U21 level with the Hammers.
Finley Hooper
Finley is a technically-gifted goalkeeper who starts many attacks with his excellent distribution. He has been with the Academy since he joined us as an Under-9.
Aaron Kamara
Aaron came into the Academy from Southend United at Under-14 level. He is a versatile player who is comfortable in central midfield, at centre-back and right-back, and displays great tenacity and energy in any position.
Chinaza Nwosu
Chinaza is a talented central midfielder who joined the Academy as an Under-9 and possesses some fine attributes. Tall, athletic with excellent technical ability, he has already played for the Under-18s while still a schoolboy. Chinaza has also represented England at U15 and U16 levels, and is a well-liked member of the squad.
Jonathan Unwin
Jonathan is a high-energy midfield player who has impressed everyone since coming into the Academy two years ago from our Emerging Hammers programme. Jonathan may be quiet off the pitch, but he is a dynamic presence on it.
