West Ham United is delighted to announce that Academy goalkeeper Lanre Awesu has signed his first professional contract with the Club.
The 17-year-old joined West Ham as a schoolboy in the U14 age group. Signing his scholarship last summer, it has been a remarkable year of progress for the young shot stopper in his first campaign as a full-time footballer.
This season alone, Awesu has represented England at junior international level for the first time, started in all but one of the U18s’ Premier League Cup games as Lauris Coggin’s side qualified for the final for the first time, and even trained with the first team.
A centre-forward in his earlier years, Awesu swapped the No9 shirt for the No1 in his first year of secondary school. The tallest in his age group, he tried out in goal and has never looked back. It had never crossed his mind that his transition to goalkeeper would end up with him becoming a professional footballer at West Ham United five years later.
“If somebody told me five years ago that I’d be sitting here, I wouldn’t have believed them, to be honest,” he reflected. “I started playing football when I was five for my school football team. All throughout primary school I was playing up front. I was tall, so my teammates would be pinging it up to me, I’d hold it up, it was good fun! I really enjoyed playing outfield. Then, in secondary school, being the tallest in my year, I went in goal for a game. I enjoyed diving around and making saves and ever since, I’ve just loved being in goal.”
While studying at Harris City Academy, Awesu joined local side AFC Nasaa. His impressive performances led to a 12-week trial at Norwich City. Despite not signing for the Canaries, he continued to impress at Nasaa and was soon invited for an eight-week trial at West Ham United. Awesu earned his breakthrough, signing for the U14s and has been honing his skills at Chadwell Heath ever since.
“Not getting signed at Norwich was a bit of a setback,” he said. “But I kept pushing and training well at Nasaa. Getting the opportunity to come and trial at West Ham was such an amazing experience, unreal. I think I fitted in quite well at Chadwell Heath. I get on well with the staff, everyone was welcoming and it’s been a great learning environment.”
Transitioning from schoolboy football to full-time, having signed his scholarship in the summer alongside nine fellow young Hammers, Awesu has enjoyed healthy competition for the No1 spot with Finley Hooper, sharing goalkeeping responsibilities throughout the campaign. Taking the opportunities that have come his way, Awesu has been involved in every England U17s camp this season. In a season full of highlights, the young shot stopper recalls fondly his Young Lions achievements, reaching the Premier League Cup final, and of course, signing his first professional contract.
He continued: “I didn’t expect to get a scholarship, to be honest. I’m so grateful to God for this opportunity. And now, to sign a professional contract, it’s unreal.
“This season has been an amazing experience, playing internationally alongside the best young players in the country, and representing England. My highlights with England are the assist against Belgium and saving a penalty against the Netherlands!
“Obviously reaching the Premier League Cup final is a massive highlight. We’ve worked so hard to get there and we’re so excited to be playing in the final. You could see the emotion on my face when we beat Manchester United on penalties, what it meant. Then, beating Derby in the semi-finals. And to do it with such an amazing set of lads!
“Training with the first-team goalkeepers has been incredible. I’ve learned so much, how they move, their footwork, their sharpness. I enjoy every minute of it and never take it for granted.”
First-team Goalkeeper Coach Xavi Valero, who has been working closely with Awesu and the Academy staff, is excited by the young goalkeeper’s progress and potential.
“He's been developing really well this season with the U18s,” said Valero. “It's not that common for a 17-year-old goalkeeper to train with the first team, but he's showing great potential and has got great attributes. He's been doing really well and acting in a very mature way when he's been with the first team.
“He's got great potential, as do the other young goalkeepers that we have at the Club. We are quite lucky with the talent that we have, and Lanre is certainly one of them. I'm happy that he's staying with us and committing his future to West Ham United.
“The positive thing, something that I think is key for a goalkeeper, is his calmness, on and off the pitch. It's an attribute that you need to perform at the highest level, and it’s something that he's already showing, despite his age. He's still in the early stages of his career, but he's showing great potential.”
Everyone at West Ham United would like to congratulate Lanre on signing his first professional contract and wish him every success in Claret and Blue.
