West Ham United is delighted to announce that midfielder Freddie Potts has signed a new three-year contract.
The 19-year-old, who was part of the Hammers squad which won the UEFA Europa Conference League in June, has put pen to paper on a deal until the summer of 2026.
Barking-born Potts joined the Club at the age of six, graduated from the Academy of Football and signed his first professional contract in June 2021 and made his first-team debut in the UEFA Europa League in December of the same year.
Last season, he was in Moyes’ matchday squad on eight occasions in the Conference League, including the final against ACF Fiorentina, and made substitute appearances in the group-stage victory at FCSB and round of 16 second-leg win over AEK Larnaca.
Potts’ ambition now is to break into the Hammers’ Premier League squad, as he explained when speaking about his new contract on the Club’s pre-season tour to Perth in Australia.
“It’s a really good feeling to sign a new three-year contract,” said the teenager. “It’s another positive step forward for me in my career.
“I’ve been working towards this for a while and feel my performances for the 21s last season and being in and around the first team have helped me get to this point. I’m just really excited to see how it all pans out for me over the coming years.
“I feel I will get opportunities. The talent in the squad is there for all to see, but being around this group will only benefit me. I think this year is an important one for me in my career.”
Potts marked the signing of his deal by remembering another young player who shone brightly at the Academy of Football, Dylan Tombides, the Perth-born striker who sadly died from cancer at the age of 20 in 2014.
Tombides was a teammate and friend of Potts’ older brother Dan, who himself was diagnosed with the blood cancer leukaemia at the age of 12 before undergoing treatment, being given the all-clear three years later and going on to make his West Ham debut in 2011. He was also on the pitch when Tombides made his own debut at the Boleyn Ground in September 2012.
Poignantly, West Ham will wear the logo of the charity founded in Tombides’ memory, DT38 Foundation, in their two pre-season matches in Australia, against A-League side Perth Glory and Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur. And the Irons are training at Stirling Macedonia FC, where Tombides started his own career as a schoolboy.
“We've met the Australian fans and it was really good to see them all and I'm looking forward to seeing them again on Saturday and Tuesday,” said the No62. “It's a massive opportunity for young players in pre-season, so I think I've got to take every game as it comes and see how it goes.
“Everyone at West Ham knows the importance of the DT38 Foundation and looking after yourself and getting yourself checked. It's shone a light on men's cancer, which is really important.”
The older Potts won promotion to the Premier League with Luton Town in May and, with his sights set on a first-team place himself, his younger brother would love to face his sibling when the two clubs meet in the top-flight this season.
“I think it would be a dream come true as I was injured when we played them in pre-season last year,” confirmed the midfielder, who is the son of former defender, two-time Hammer of the Year and current Academy coach Steve.
“I know Dan wants the same thing as well, as we obviously used to battle out in the garden at home since I was about five years old, so to play against each other in the Premier League would be great!”
In the meantime, he will hope for opportunities to impress against Perth Glory and Tottenham at Optus Stadium on Saturday 15 and Tuesday 18 July respectively.
Everyone at West Ham United would like to congratulate Freddie on his new contract and wish him well for his future career in Claret and Blue.
