Josh Ajala fired West Ham United U18s to Premier League Cup glory, scoring his 19th and 20th goals of the season to help the young Hammers become the first side in the Club’s history to lift the trophy.
Despite playing most of the season above his age group in the U21s squad, Ajala has certainly played his part in the success of the U18s’ season.
After missing the opening two group fixtures due to U21s commitments, Ajala returned for a must-win final group game against Southampton. A win and draw against Nottingham Forest and Everton respectively meant only three points would be enough against the current Premier League South leaders to send them through as group winners.
Since that game against the young Saints, where Ajala duly delivered with his first of three braces, the 18-year-old striker has scored seven of the young Hammers’ nine goals in the decisive final four matches in the competition.
He told West Ham TV: “Coming back down with the U18s for the cup competitions, it's always a big moment for us, because we're such a close group together. To win the cup is something that we've all been working towards, so it's such a special moment for all of us.
“Playing in the game against Southampton all the way back in November, I scored two goals there to help us get to the quarter-finals, scored again against Manchester United in the quarter-finals, then two again against Derby, which was brilliant, and then two again tonight to win the cup. It's just top!”
Despite taking the lead relatively early in the final, the young Hammers were pegged back ten minutes before the break by an excellent strike from Reading’s Carter Bowdery. Although most of the over 2,000-strong crowd at the Select Car Leasing Stadium were cheering on the hosts, Ajala insisted the result was never in doubt and that he was confident he’d get his chance to win the game for his side, which he made no mistake in converting.
THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS!!! 😤 pic.twitter.com/7ICroJE8FO
— West Ham United (@WestHam) April 22, 2025
He continued: “We were on top of the game the whole time, we knew that we were the better team. We just wanted to stay calm and we knew we'd get our chance at some point."
A challenging campaign in terms of league results for the U18s, and an early exit in the FA Youth Cup at the hands of Grimsby Town, added extra hunger and motivation for our young Hammers to prove their true quality on the big stage and end the season with a piece of silverware their efforts thoroughly deserved.
“Going out to Grimsby in the FA Youth Cup was so disappointing, one of the most disappointing things that's happened in my career," he revealed.
“Obviously, we wanted to bounce back and win the Premier League Cup, that's what we all said to each other, so it's just brilliant that we've done it. Words can't describe how good it felt, it was just a brilliant moment, we all loved it!”
