West Ham United can confirm that Chris Cohen has now
completed his permanent move to League One side Yeovil
Town.
The 19-year-old midfielder, who spent the majority of last season on loan with the Glovers, has moved to Huish Park for an undisclosed fee and signed a two-year contract with the club he helped to avoid relegation to League Two at the end of the 2005-06 campaign.
Chris originally joined Hammers as a 12-year-old Academy hopeful and was tipped as one of the bright young stars of the future after winning England schoolboy honours. Following Alan Pardew's arrival as manager in October 2003, he was handed a senior debut at the tender age of 16, when he appeared as a substitute in a 3-2 win over Sunderland on December 13, 2003.
In doing so, he became the youngest player to appear for West Ham United's first team in more than 80 years. That capped off an amazing season in which he first featured at Upton Park as a ball-boy, then played for the Under-17s, Under-19s, reserve and first-teams, as well as being called up into the England Under-17 squad.
Chris's one League start for the Hammers was at left-back in a 1-0 home win over Reading in August 2004 and he went on to make 14 appearances in our promotion-winning season. He was handed another start by Alan Pardew last season, in the Carling Cup second round victory over Sheffield Wednesday, before being allowed to head out on loan to Yeovil for more vital senior experience.
He went on to make 30 league appearances, scoring one goal, and finished up winning the majority of Yeovil's player of the season awards as the club fought a successful battle against relegation.
Like his former Upton Park colleague Elliott Ward, Chris couldn't be guaranteed Premiership action with the Hammers next season, and expressed a desire to continue his career elsewhere in a bid for regular first team football.
West Ham United would like to thank Chris for his loyal service since joining the Club and wish him all the best for his future career at Yeovil Town.
The 19-year-old midfielder, who spent the majority of last season on loan with the Glovers, has moved to Huish Park for an undisclosed fee and signed a two-year contract with the club he helped to avoid relegation to League Two at the end of the 2005-06 campaign.
Chris originally joined Hammers as a 12-year-old Academy hopeful and was tipped as one of the bright young stars of the future after winning England schoolboy honours. Following Alan Pardew's arrival as manager in October 2003, he was handed a senior debut at the tender age of 16, when he appeared as a substitute in a 3-2 win over Sunderland on December 13, 2003.
In doing so, he became the youngest player to appear for West Ham United's first team in more than 80 years. That capped off an amazing season in which he first featured at Upton Park as a ball-boy, then played for the Under-17s, Under-19s, reserve and first-teams, as well as being called up into the England Under-17 squad.
Chris's one League start for the Hammers was at left-back in a 1-0 home win over Reading in August 2004 and he went on to make 14 appearances in our promotion-winning season. He was handed another start by Alan Pardew last season, in the Carling Cup second round victory over Sheffield Wednesday, before being allowed to head out on loan to Yeovil for more vital senior experience.
He went on to make 30 league appearances, scoring one goal, and finished up winning the majority of Yeovil's player of the season awards as the club fought a successful battle against relegation.
Like his former Upton Park colleague Elliott Ward, Chris couldn't be guaranteed Premiership action with the Hammers next season, and expressed a desire to continue his career elsewhere in a bid for regular first team football.
West Ham United would like to thank Chris for his loyal service since joining the Club and wish him all the best for his future career at Yeovil Town.