West Ham United is delighted to announce that exciting prospect Daniel Rigge has signed Scholarship terms with the Club.
Rigge, an England U16s international midfielder, joins the Academy of Football from Manchester City following a successful trial in Claret and Blue.
The 16-year-old is widely considered one of the brightest teenage talents in English football and has opted to continue his development with West Ham United.
“It’s very good to be here,” Rigge told whufc.com. “West Ham United is a Club that is on the up, and last season the team did very well. It was great to see the first team in Europe too.
“The West Ham Academy is renowned for bringing young players through. The Academy has an incredible history and I’m looking forward to being a part of it.
“I’ve been really impressed with what I’ve seen in terms of the set-up. The Academy house looks really good and it felt like a family when I first visited, which was a great feeling.”
The teenager put pen-to-paper on his deal at the Rush Green Training Facility, where he was welcomed to the Hammers by Academy Manager Ricky Martin and departing Club captain Mark Noble.
Rigge revealed Noble, who called an end to his iconic 18-year career in Claret and Blue at the end of the season, shared some words with wisdom on playing for the Irons.
“Ricky was really good with me and welcomed me into West Ham. With what he was telling me about the Club, I immediately felt comfortable here.
“I had the chance to meet Mark Noble as well, who was also very welcoming. He made clear to me the standards expected at West Ham United. It was such a big moment and I felt very proud to speak to him about joining this Club.”
Rigge, who made his England U16s debut back in April, is comfortable playing across the midfield and has compared himself to Argentinian playmaker Manuel Lanzini.
He continued: "I like to think I’m an intelligent player. I think I’m good with the ball at my feet and I like creating chances and opportunities.
“I also think I’m good at dribbling, so I’d probably compare myself to Lanzini in the West Ham first team. I also try to always work hard for my teammates.”
Having signed his deal with the Hammers Academy, Rigge has set himself the target of catching the eye of the first-team coaches, and knows a strong start to life in Claret and Blue with Kevin Keen’s U18s will be pivotal.
“My long-term aspirations are to get into the first team,” he added. “I know I need to work hard to do that. Next season, I’ll be with the U18s, who I know had a really good year last season, so I want to have a good campaign with them.
“I’m very excited to link up with them. I know a few of the boys in the squad from England camps, so it will be good to train with and play with them each week.”
