Joe Widdowson has signed a three-year deal with Grimbsy Town after a successful loan spell at the League Two outfit earlier this season.
The out of contract 20-year-old Academy product made 20 league appearances for Grimsby, scoring one goal, after joining for three months at the turn of the year. The left-back had begun the season well at West Ham United, earning a place on the club's pre-season tour of North America and ultimately marking David Beckham during the MLS All-Stars match in Toronto last July.
Although on the bench for the League Cup tie with Macclesfield Town last August, Widdowson never featured for the West Ham first team in a senior encounter, but also made three loan appearances for Rotherham United during another loan spell in early 2008. He said: "Having been to Grimsby, I know the place, I know the club and it wasn't a difficult decision. There were a couple of other clubs interested but they couldn't really guarantee me regular football."