West Ham United is delighted to announce that Airidas Golambeckis has signed his first professional contract with the Club.
On his 17th birthday, Golambeckis celebrated the milestone at West Ham United’s Rush Green Training Ground, joined by his parents and older brother.
“It’s a dream come true,” he reflected. “I’ve been an East London boy my whole life. I grew up watching West Ham, thinking maybe one day I could play for them. Being offered a pro contract is without a doubt one of the best days of my life. But I’m not taking this for granted. The work keeps going, and I’ll keep pushing to hopefully become a West Ham player in the future.”
The young centre-back has been in prolific form since becoming a full-time Academy scholar this summer, netting five times in ten appearances for our U18s. His commanding presence in defence and threat from set pieces have earned him a call-up to England’s U18s, where he also scored in a 3-1 victory over Ukraine U19s in October.
“Becoming a scholar has been a massive change for me. Leaving school and committing fully to football makes it your whole life, and it’s a lot of hard work. But that’s what every young footballer dreams of. Signing a pro contract on my birthday means everything to me. “Although it’s an amazing feeling, it doesn’t change anything for me. I need to keep working and continue improving.”
Born and raised in East Ham, Golambeckis joined West Ham at the age of nine having spent two years at West Ham United Foundation’s football development schools in Beckton.
Academy Manager Kenny Brown, who has followed his progress closely, praised Golambeckis for reaching this latest career milestone.
“Players are the ones who make the case for their professional contracts. This contract is a reward for Airidas' dedication and the level he’s playing at now. Like with all young players, we need to manage his development carefully and introduce him to different challenges along the way.
“It’s fantastic to sign another local boy who’s been with us since the U9s,” Brown continued. “He knows this is his club, and he’s had incredible support from his family, who have always trusted the way we’ve managed his path.
“He’s really taken off since signing his scholarship in the summer. The exciting thing is there’s still so much more to come from him. He’s established himself well in the U18s as a first-year scholar, and now he’s in the England camps. The feedback we’re receiving is all positive.
Praising Golambeckis’ character and demeanour off the pitch, Brown added: “Airidas is where he is not only because of his footballing ability but also because of his exemplary attitude. They go hand in hand. To have a future in the game, you need to show the Academy values, and he displays them every day in the classroom, in the gym, on the pitch, and even away from here. He comes from a humble family who have been nothing but supportive, and when you put all that together, he’s got every opportunity to be a success.”
Everyone at West Ham United would like to congratulate Airidas on signing his first professional contract and wish him every success in Claret and Blue.
