West Ham United is delighted to announce that Josh Ajala has signed his first professional contract with the Club.
The striker put pen to paper at the iconic Chadwell Heath training ground, marking the next step in his promising footballing career.
Signed from Chelsea in summer 2023, Ajala has hit the ground running in east London and is now ready to continue his journey at the Academy of Football as a young professional.
“It’s a big moment for me and my family!” Ajala exclaimed. “Signing a pro contract is something I’d dreamed of as a kid and it’s probably the biggest moment of my life so far.
“There has been a lot of hard work to get to this point, but I just want to keep performing for the Under-18s.”
A pacy forward who can play off both feet, Ajala scored goals regularly throughout his schoolboy years in west London, showcasing himself as one of the brightest attacking prospects in the capital.
After moving to east London, Ajala quickly made his mark to become a key part of Kevin Keen’s squad for 2023/24. Ajala scored five goals in his first five matches of the season to help the side rise to third in the U18 Premier League South division. The 17-year-old also netted in an U21s friendly against Canvey Island over the summer.
Goalscoring comes naturally to the talented forward, but Ajala has challenged himself to progress both on and off the pitch.
Ajala added: “Coming to West Ham in the summer, I’ve gelled in with the team and the coaches. It’s a great place to come every day and it’s very welcoming.
“I feel like finishing is a big part of my game so it’s important I can contribute goals to the team. Hopefully, I can get the call-up for the U21s and can make my Premier League 2 debut.”
Ajala is the latest member of Keen’s squad to sign professional terms, following attacking midfielder Dan Rigge last month.
Academy Manager Kenny Brown has high hopes for the forward’s career in east London.
Brown said: “Everyone at West Ham United is delighted to see Josh sign professional terms. Since his arrival over the summer, he has impressed everyone at the Academy by consistently showing a real dedication to improve as a footballer both on and off the pitch.
“Josh is a natural finisher who had scored goals throughout his schoolboy years at Chelsea and is continuing his goalscoring feats here with us. He is enjoying his football and has already become a valuable member of the U18 squad and has been a key player in our impressive start to the season.
“It’s clear there is so much more to come from Josh at the Academy of Football, and we are all pleased to see him take the next step in his career with West Ham.”
Everyone at West Ham United would like to congratulate Josh on signing his first professional contract and wish him every success in Claret and Blue.
