After signing his first professional contract last summer, Academy midfielder Tyron Akpata has taken his game to another level, stepping up from U18s to U21s football. A consistent presence in Mark Robson’s midfield throughout 2024/25, the 18-year-old is the team’s leading appearance maker across all competitions.
Anchoring the midfield alongside Lewis Orford and Preston Fearon, Akpata has helped the U21s secure a fourth-place finish in the Premier League 2 standings. And with knockout football just around the corner, the first-year pro reflected on his development so far as the U21s gear up for the play-offs.
“I’ve loved every minute of the season,” he smiled. “It’s a top group. Coming into this environment from the U18s, it’s been a good transition for me. There have been some ups and downs, but the experience overall has been great, playing against top players, taking part in the EFL Trophy, and just gelling with the team.”
“As an individual, I feel like I’ve come a long way. I’m more forward-thinking, more progressive in my play. I’ve started to express myself more and take on responsibility. Off the pitch as well, the bond with the lads has grown stronger, we’ve built something good together.”
February’s West Ham United Goal of the Month winner, Akpata credits much of his progress to the support system around him.
An unbelievable strike 🔥
Tyron Akpata wins February Goal of the Month 🏆 pic.twitter.com/GYvP8JbHp2— West Ham United (@WestHam) March 7, 2025
“The coaching staff have been great. Sitting down with Robbo [Mark Robson], Gel [Gerard Prenderville], Steve [Potts], [goalkeeper coach] Bill [Lepine] and [head of Academy analysis] Fred [Reardon], those conversations have helped massively. Whether it’s reviewing performances or just resetting mentally, their feedback’s been really important in helping me push on.”
Akpata and his U21s teammates begin their Premier League 2 play-off campaign at home against Sunderland in the round of 16 on Saturday, the same opponents who brought their 2023/24 season to a sudden halt.
After a brilliant season that included reaching the EFL Trophy knockouts, the semi-finals of the Premier League International Cup, and finishing second in the Premier League 2 table, the young Hammers were left frustrated as Sunderland came from behind three times before winning on penalties in last season’s quarter-final.
The U21s also played the Black Cats during this year's regular season. The 1-0 win courtesy of a second-half Josh Ajala strike kickstarted the young Hammers' seven-game winning streak which secured their high play-off seeding. With the pressure of knockout football returning, Saturday’s tie promises to be another intense encounter.
“We’re all excited for knockout football,” Akpata said. “There’s something extra about it. In league games, sometimes it’s just another match, but in the play-offs, it’s all or nothing. You’ve got extra-time, penalties, there’s more emotion and mental strength involved.
“Whoever we play, we want to win. But Sunderland definitely adds an edge. They knocked us out last year, so when we played them earlier this season, we had to make sure we won and do the same again on Saturday. They're a good team so I reckon it'll be a good game. We’re at Rush Green though, it’s our ground, and we’re ready.”
Drawing motivation from some of the younger members of the squad, who this week won the U18 Premier League Cup, Akpata, part of the squad that won the FA Youth Cup in 2023, is keen to replicate the U18s' success with their own shot at silverware in the Premier League 2 play-offs.
“Seeing Airidas [Golambeckis], Josh [Ajala], Emi [Adiele], Ez [Mayers], Preston [Fearon], players that are involved in U21s group, win, it gives us a bit more motivation and drive. We all want to experience those same feelings and emotions. There are four games between us and the title, and we’re treating them all like finals.”
With a two-week competitive break between their final Premier League 2 game and the play-offs, Akpata and his teammates travelled to Paris where they faced PSG Espoirs in order to maintain match sharpness and test themselves against a top quality opponent.
“Going to Paris was a great experience,” Akpata reflected. “The facilities were top, and it was good to play a team who were really well structured. It was the perfect preparation for knockout football, because you don’t always dominate. But if you stay solid, stick together, you can weather the storm and still win. That’s the mentality we’re taking into the play-offs.”
Tickets for Saturday's round of 16 tie against Sunderland can be purchased at the Rush Green Stadium (RM7 0LU) turnstiles, priced at £5 for Adults and £1 for U18s. Season Ticket Holders can attend for free by showing their Season Ticket at the entrance.
| Category | Price |
| Adult | £5 |
| U18s | £1 |
| Season Ticket Holders | FREE |
