Not for the first time, a group of West Ham United Academy’s goalkeepers have been selected to represent their nations during the March international break.
Krisztián Hegyi, with 50 games at youth level for his native Hungary under his belt, has been selected by the senior squad for the second time as they look to secure their third consecutive campaign in the top tierof the UEFA Nations League.
Hegyi joined seven-time Hungarian champions Debreceni VSC on loan in January. Before signing the 22-year-old, relegation-threatened Debreceni had been conceding at an alarming rate of over two goals a game. Hegyi’s arrival in mid-January has helped steady the backline, keeping two clean sheets, and his form in his homeland has seen him earn a first senior call up since 2023.
For England U19s, Finlay Herrick has been a mainstay this season. Included in every squad list for Will Antwi’s young Lions, the 19-year-old shot stopper has the best goals conceded record in the 26-team Premier League 2 division and will be looking to help the Young Lions secure qualification to the UEFA U19 Euros.
Last but not least, first-year scholar Lanre Awesu receives his third call-up to England’s U17s. The 17-year-old has impressed for Lauris Coggin’s U18s during their Premier League Cup campaign, which has seen them reach the final for the first time, beating Manchester United —where Awesu saved a penalty in the shootout— and Derby County in the knockout stages. The final against Reading will take place in April.
As the trio take another step in their development, West Ham United Men's Goalkeeper Coach Xavi Valero, who has worked extensively with the three young stoppers, said: “It’s great news for the goalkeeping department, the Academy and the Club as a whole that we have three of our young goalkeepers on international duty.
“And it’s also nice that it’s across different levels and age groups, with Krisztián representing the senior national team with Hungary, Finlay with England’s U19s and Lanre with the U17s.
“It shows a nice consistency to the development of our young goalkeepers and that gap between each of them is important, because it illustrates the succession plan that is in place and the fact that we are regularly producing excellent young goalkeepers who will hopefully have a career in the game.
“Individually, we are really pleased for each of the three guys, who have all worked really hard this season and deserve their call-ups.
“Krisztián has a big challenge in front of him, obviously, with Peter Gulácsi established as Hungary’s number one, a Champions League goalkeeper with RB Leipzig, but it is a hugely valuable experience for him to be involved in important games as Hungary fight to keep their spot in the Nations League.
“We hope that Finlay and Lanre will get some match action and, again, good experience for them in important qualifying matches, not just friendlies.
“International football will also give all of them different experiences, on and off the pitch, helping their development both as players and as people, and that obviously is a good thing for West Ham United.”
In his seventh season as men's Goalkeeper Coach, Valero has plenty of experience working with the Academy to create pathways for the Club’s young shot stoppers as they take their first steps into professional football.
He continued: “It’s also a fantastic reflection on the Academy and the coaches throughout the age groups - particularly the goalkeeping coaches, both full-time and part-time - highlighting the great work that goes into helping our goalkeepers develop.
“We have a great structure to our goalkeeping department that runs through the Club from the very youngest age groups in the Academy, led by Head of Academy Goalkeeping Billy Lepine. We are proud of the fact that many of our young goalkeepers have earned international recognition, not only those with us now but also those who came through the Academy previously.
“Nathan Trott is one who had some experience with England, and is now playing first-team and European football with FC Copenhagen, and Joseph Anang was also with England U19s for a period [and is now No1 for League of Ireland club St Patrick's Athletic]. It shows there is a consistent pathway and sense of progress and an achievement.
“And of course, that is the perfect example for our young schoolboy goalkeepers, to see those just above them in the age groups developing so well, training with the first team senior goalkeepers, as Finlay and Lanre have done this season, and playing at international level. It is very positive for West Ham United, and long may it continue.”
