For decades, West Ham United have been synonymous with the discovery and development of the best young footballers in the country.
On their graduation from the Academy of Football at the age of 18, young professionals and third-year scholars move into the Development Squad.
Overseen by Academy Manager and Head of Coaching and Player Development Terry Westley and managed by Nick Haycock, West Ham's Development Squad compete in the Barclays U21 Premier League Division 1 during the 2014/15 season.
U21s - Squad
Kieran Bywater
Born: 7 September 1995, Trafford, Manchester, England
Position: Attacking midfielder
Free-scoring attacking midfielder who topped the goal charts for West Ham United's U18s in 2013/14 with 17 in 30 appearances...Scored two goals in 16 U18 appearances in 2012/13...Made 13 appearances for the U21s, seven of them starts, in 2012/13...Captained the youth team to the Barclays U18 Premier League Play-Off semi-finals in spring 2014, where they were edged out by Manchester City...Nominated for the Dylan Tombides Award for the club's outstanding Academy scholar for 2013/14...Totalled seven Development Squad appearances in 2013/14...Signed his first professional contract with West Ham United in summer 2014.
Leo Chambers
Born: 5 August 1995, London, England
Position: Defender
Born and raised in south London...Able to play at right-back or centre-back...Joined the Academy in 2002 when he was just seven years old...Progressed through the Academy ranks to sign his first professional contract at the age of 17 in 2012...Made his first-team debut for West Ham United in a 2-1 League Cup second-round victory over Cheltenham Town at the Boleyn Ground on 27 August 2013...Featured in League Cup victories over Cardiff City and Burnley in autumn 2013...Capped by England at U16, U17, U18 and U19 levels...Wore the captain's armband on his England U16 debut in a Victory Shield international against Wales in October 2010.
Josh Cullen
Born: 7 April 1996, Southend-on-Sea, England
Position: Midfielder
An all-action central midfield player who was born and raised in Essex...Totalled 43 league and cup appearances for the U18s over two seasons between 2012-14, scoring once...Won the Dylan Tombides Award for being the Academy's outstanding player for the 2013/14 season...Totalled ten U21 appearances and one goal in 2013/14...Capped by England at U16 level before switching his international allegiance to the Republic of Ireland in early 2014...Made his Republic of Ireland debut at U18 level in a friendly double-header with Czech Republic in April 2014.
Matthias Fanimo
Born: 28 January 1994. Lambeth, London, England
Position: Winger
Born and raised in Rotherhithe in south London...Spotted by West Ham United at the age of six while playing for Redriff Primary School...Moved to Grays in Essex as a youngster and commuted from there to training at Little Heath...Signed his first professional contract with the Club in summer 2011...Made his first-team debut for the Hammers as a substitute in a League Cup second-round win over Cheltenham Town at the Boleyn Ground on 28 August 2012...Appeared as a substitute in the League Cup third-round defeat by Wigan Athletic in September 2012...Totalled 15 U21 appearances and three goals in 2012/13...Made his third first-team appearance for West Ham United as a substitute in a 5-1 FA Cup third-round defeat at Nottingham Forest in January 2014...Totalled 17 U21 appearances and three goals in 2013/14...Loaned to League Two club Hartlepool United in September 2014...Capped by England at U16, U17 and U18 levels...Won the Victory Shield home international tournament with England U16s in 2008...Captained England in the 2009 Victory Shield.
Jaanai Gordon
Born: 7 December 1995, Northampton, England
Position: Forward
Came through the Academy ranks at Peterborough United, signing his first professional contract with The Posh on his 17th birthday in December 2012. Made his first-team debut for Peterborough in a 2-0 home Championship defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers in September 2012....Totalled seven first-team appearances for Peterborough...Went on trial with West Ham United in autumn 2013...Scored twice in his opening game of his trial for the U18s against Aston Villa...Scored twice as a substitute in a 9-0 friendly defeat of Gillingham in November 2013...Joined West Ham United on 1 January 2014...Was an unused substitute for the FA Cup third-round defeat at Nottingham Forest in January 2014...Totalled two U21 appearances in 2013/14.
Jamie Harney
Born: 4 March 1996, Plumbridge, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Position: Defender
Northern Irish centre-back who joined West Ham United in 2012 as a first-year scholar at the age of 16...Totalled 17 appearances and two goals for the U18s in his first season with the Club in 2012/13...Made his U21 debut for West Ham United as a substitute at Norwich City on 17 October 2012...Scored his first goal in Claret and Blue in a 5-1 FA Youth Cup third-round win at Aldershot Town in December 2012...Totalled eight U21 appearances in 2013/14 - all of them starts...Totalled 16 appearances for the Hammers' U18s in 2013/14, scoring once...Capped by Northern Ireland at all age-group levels...Captained Northern Ireland to glory at the U19 Milk Cup in August 2014...Made his Northern Ireland U21 debut in a 4-1 UEFA European U21 Championship qualifier in Serbia on 9 September 2014.
Dymon Labonne
Born: 22 November 1994, Redbridge, London, England
Position: Winger
Joined West Ham United at the age of 12...Previously played Sunday league football for Southside and Interwood and for Redbridge District...Attended Oaks Park School in Newbury Park...Signed a two-year scholarship with West Ham United in summer 2011...Appeared for the U18s at the Tallinn Cup pre-season tournament in Estonia in summer 2011...Suffered a serious knee injury in training in September 2011... A knee injury restricted the winger to just one substitute appearance for the U18s in 2012/13...Did not make a competitive appearance in 2013/14...Was granted an extension to his scholarship in summer 2014...Returned to action in a pre-season win at Braintree Town in July 2014...Appeared as a substitute in a 5-1 friendly win over an Ipswich Town XI in September 2014.
Elliot Lee
Born: 16 December 1994, Durham, England
Position: Forward
Stocky, powerful striker blessed with a natural finisher's ability...Has been a prolific goalscorer at all age-group levels for West Ham United....The son of former West Ham United and England midfielder Rob Lee...Made his senior debut for the Hammers in an FA Cup third-round defeat at Manchester United in January 2013...Scored seven goals in 18 U21 appearances for the Hammers in 2012/13...Scored seven goals in eight U18 appearances in 2012/13...Made his Barclays Premier League bow for West Ham United in the home defeat by Stoke City on 31 August 2013...Loaned to Colchester United in October 2013, making four League One appearances and scoring his maiden Football League goal at Rotherham United on 2 November 2013...Scored eight goals in 14 U21 appearances in 2013/14.
Sebastian Lletget
Born: 3 September 1992, San Francisco, California, United States
Position: Attacking midfielder
California-born United States U23 international attacking midfielder blessed with outstanding technical ability...Was the first product of the West Ham United International Academy to sign professional terms, doing so in September 2010...Totalled 24 appearances and one goal for the Development Squad in 2012/13...Made his first-team debut for the Hammers in the FA Cup with Budweiser third-round defeat at Nottingham Forest in January 2014...Scored three goals in 19 appearances for the Development Squad in 2013/14...Appeared in the first-team pre-season matches at Ipswich Town and Schalke 04 in July 2014...Capped by United States at U15, U17, U20 and U23 levels.
Sean Maguire
Born: 1 May 1994, Luton, England
Position: Forward
Bedfordshire-born Republic of Ireland U19 striker who joined West Ham United in January 2013 following a prolific spell with League of Ireland First Division side Waterford United...Netted 14 goals in 32 appearances for Waterford to attract the attention of West Ham United...Finished as top scorer in the League of Ireland First Division in 2012...Totalled eight Development Squad appearances in 2013/14, scoring in a 3-2 home league win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in April 2013...Was an unused substitute in the FA Cup third-round defeat at Nottingham Forest in January 2014...Totalled five substitute appearances for the Hammers' U21s in 2013/14...Loaned to League of Ireland Premier Division side Sligo Rovers in spring 2014, making more than 20 first-team appearances for the club...Appeared twice for Sligo Rovers in the UEFA Europa League against Norwegian club Rosenborg in July 2014...Loaned to League Two club Accrington Stanley in September 2014...Scored on his Accrington Stanley debut in a 5-4 League Two win at Northampton Town on 20 September 2014.
Moses Makasi
Born: 22 September 1995, London, England
Position: Midfielder
Defensive midfielder who is strong in the tackle and composed in possession...Totalled 15 appearances for West Ham United's U18s in 2012/13...Started the Development Squad's final eight league matches of the 2013/14 season...Totalled seven U21 appearances in 2013/14, two of them starts...Was a regular starter for the U18s in the second year of his scholarship in 2013/14, starting 25 times and making three substitute appearances...Agreed his first professional deal with West Ham United in summer 2014.
Ben Marlow
Born: 1 October 1995, Chelmsford, England
Position: Midfielder
Tough-tackling Essex-born central midfielder who joined West Ham United at the age of six...Totalled nine U21 appearances as a first-year scholar in 2012/13, scoring in a 5-2 league defeat at Southampton in May 2013...Totalled 13 appearances for the Hammers' U18 side in 2012/13...An injury-restricted 2013/14 season saw him make just nine U18 appearances and score one goal...Did not appear for the U21s in 2013/14...Had his scholarship extended to a third season in summer 2014.
Nathan Mavila
Born: 15 October 1995, Brixton, London, England
Position: Full-back/Winger
South London-born full-back or winger who joined West Ham United from Wycombe Wanderers at the age of 16 in summer 2012...Born and raised in London to Congolese parents...A speedy, direct player who is never afraid to deliver a telling cross or shot...Scored on his Development Squad debut for West Ham United in a 3-1 league defeat at Norwich City on 17 December 2012...Totalled four U21 appearances and one goal in 2012/13...Made 20 appearances for the Hammers' U18s as a first-year scholar in 2012/13...Totalled nine Barclays U21 Premier League appearances in 2013/14, scoring one goal...Was a semi-regular for West Ham United's U18s in 2013/14, totalling 29 appearances, 18 of them starts.
Paul McCallum
Born: 28 July 1993, Streatham, London, England
Position: Forward
A tall and powerful forward who joined West Ham United following a prolific spell with non-league Dulwich Hamlet in January 2011...Scored 15 goals in just seven appearances in the FA Youth Cup in 2010/11, helping Dulwich Hamlet to reach the third round...Joined League Two club Rochdale on loan in January 2012...Joined League Two club AFC Wimbledon on loan in November 2012, scoring four goals in nine league appearances...Scored six goals in 15 Development Squad appearances for the Hammers in 2012/13...Signed a new contract with West Ham United in January 2013...Appeared in first-team pre-season matches at Cork City - where he scored - Borehamwood and AFC Bournemouth in July 2013...Scored three goals in six games during a loan spell with League Two club Torquay United in October-November 2013...Loaned to Scottish Premier League club Heart of Midlothian in January 2014, totalling seven appearances for the Jam Tarts...Scored once in three Development Squad appearances in 2013/14.
Amos Nasha
Born: 4 September 1995, Finchley, London, England
Position: Defender
Versatile player able to perform at full-back, centre-back or in a defensive midfield role...Began his career with the Lyndhurst Boys club in Islington...Joined West Ham United at the age of 12 after being released by Tottenham Hotspur...Named Alex Song as his favourite player as a child...Appeared for the Hammers' U18s while still a schoolboy in 2011/12...Appeared as a substitute in the first-team pre-season matches at Southend United and Oxford United in summer 2012 at the age of 16...Started eleven consecutive matches for the Development Squad between January-April 2013...Totalled 16 appearances for the U18s in 2012/13...Totalled five U21 appearances in 2013/14...Made 26 starts for the U18s in 2013/14, scoring twice.
Lewis Page
Born: 20 May 1996, London, England
Position: Defender
Attack-minded left-back...Totalled 19 appearances for the U18s in 2012/13 as a first-year scholar, 18 of them starts...Appeared for the Development Squad on five occasions during the second year of his scholarship in 2013/14...Was a regular starter for the U18s at left-back in 2012/13, making 17 starts and scoring twice before being promoted to the Development Squad in spring 2014...Nominated for the Dylan Tombides for Academy Player of the Year for 2013/14...Signed his first professional contract in summer 2014.
Dan Potts
Born: 13 April 1994, Barking, London, England
Position: Defender
Versatile and composed defender able to play at centre-back or left-back...Attended Marshalls Park School in Romford...Followed his famous father Steve through the ranks at the Academy of Football...Captained the U18s and U21s regularly...Was rewarded with a first professional contract and first-team debut in the same week in December 2011...Made his debut in the 1-0 Championship win over Barnsley at the Boleyn Ground...Totalled four first-team appearances in 2011/12...Was loaned to League One Colchester United in November 2012, making five appearances for the U's...Totalled six first-team appearances for West Ham United in 2012/13...Suffered a concussion in a clash of heads with Bacary Sagna in a 5-1 defeat at Arsenal in January 2013...Totalled seven first-team appearances for the Hammers in 2013/14...Loaned to League Two side Portsmouth in November 2013, making six appearances for Pompey...Totalled 15 Development Squad appearances in 2013/14, scoring three goals...Signed a new contract with West Ham United in summer 2014...Capped by the United States at U20 level before switching his international allegiance to England in 2012...Capped by England at U18, U19 and U20 level.
Kieran Sadlier
Born: 14 September 1994, Haywards Heath, England
Position: Forward
Sussex-born, Cambridgeshire-raised Republic of Ireland U21 international attacking midfielder, winger or forward...Was initially scouted by Cambridge United as an Under-9...Joined West Ham United when Cambridge United's own Academy closed in 2005...Began a two-year scholarship with West Ham United in summer 2011...Appeared four times for the Development Squad in 2012/13...Finished the 2012/13 season as the U18s' leading scorer with ten goals in 22 appearances in league and cup...Started the 2013/14 season as a Development Squad...Saw his development slowed by a shin injury in November 2013...Returned to action in February 2014 and ended the 2013/14 season with 15 U21 appearances and three goals to his name...Spent the summer of 2014 working with Olympic sprint champion Michael Johnson at St George's Park...Capped by Republic of Ireland at U18, U19 and U21 levels...Made his Republic of Ireland U21 debut against Qatar U23s in Aachen, Germany, on 24 May 2014.
Taylor Tombides
Born: 21 February 1996, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Position: Attacking midfielder/Forward
Australia-born attacking midfielder or forward...Totalled ten appearances and two goals for the U18s in 2012/13, netting against Everton and Sunderland...Appeared in the Development Squad's pre-season match at AFC Hornchurch in August 2013...Saw his appearances limited by a serious injury in 2013/14, meaning he played just once for the U18s...Is the younger brother of the late Dylan Tombides, the striker who tragically passed away at the age of 20 in April 2014 following a three-year battle with cancer...Scored in the Development Squad's pre-season victory over AFC Hornchurch in July 2014, dedicating the goal to his older brother...Capped by Australia at U16 level...Scored five goals as a substitute for Australia U16s in a 10-0 AFC U-16 Championship qualifying win over Guam in Thailand in September 2011..Scored in a 2-0 win over Thailand at the AFC U-16 Championship in Iran in 2012, where Australia reached the quarter-finals.
Blair Turgott
Born: 22 May 1994, Bromley, Kent, England
Position: Winger
Joined West Ham United at the age of eight...Has enjoyed a series of loan spells in the Football League in recent seasons...Helped Bradford City to reach the Capital One Cup final in 2012/13, appearing in the quarter-final and semi-final wins over Barclays Premier League Arsenal and Aston Villa respectively...Loaned to Colchester United in November 2013, scoring his maiden league goal for the U's in a Boxing Day win over Stevenage...Made his Hammers debut in the FA Cup with Budweiser third-round defeat at Nottingham Forest in January 2014...Loaned to Rotherham United in January 2014, appearing once as a substitute...Loaned to League Two club Dagenham and Redbridge on 27 March 2014, making five appearances for the League Two club...Capped by England at U16, U17, U18 and U19 levels...Scored in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup against Canada, helping England to top their group...Appeared alongside Liverpool's Raheem Sterling as England defeated Argentina on penalties before being edged out 3-2 by Germany in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup quarter-finals...Scored three goals in six goals for England U19s.
Sam Westley
Born: 4 February 1994, England
Position: Full-back
Defender who is able to play in either full-back position...Was with Birmingham City as a schoolboy and scholar...Joined Stoke City at the age of 18 in summer 2012...Spent two seasons with Stoke City's Development Squad between 2012-14...Made five league appearances for Stoke City U21s in 2012/13...Spent time with Ipswich Town in spring 2014...Joined West Ham United in summer 2014...Made his Hammers debut in a Barclays U21 Premier League defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on 18 August 2014.
Danny Whitehead
Born: 23 October 1993, Stretford, Manchester, England
Position: Midfielder
Began his career with Stockport County at the age of 14 in 2008...Penned a two-year deal when he signed for West Ham United from Conference North club Stockport County in summer 2013...A first-team player at Stockport County at just 17...Totalled 42 appearances for the Hatters in 2012/13...Made his Hammers debut in an FA Cup with Budweiser third-round defeat at Nottingham Forest in January 2014...Totalled 21 appearances and two goals for the Development Squad in 2013/14...Appeared in the first-team pre-season matches against Stevenage, Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC in July 2014.