West Ham United is delighted to announce that young goalkeeper Finlay Herrick has signed a new long-term contract until the summer of 2028, with the option for a further year.
An Academy of Football graduate who first trained with us at the age of six, Herrick has emerged as one of English football’s most promising young goalkeepers. He has enjoyed much success at youth level over the years, winning the FA Youth Cup and the U18 Premier League South in 2022/23.
Since then, the 18-year-old has continued to take huge strides in his development, making his West Ham United U21s and England MU19s debuts as well as also training regularly with Julen Lopetegui’s first team squad.
The goalkeeper has featured in all six Premier League 2 fixtures so far this season, keeping three clean sheets.
All told, it has been a memorable journey so far for Herrick at West Ham United, and one that he says he cannot wait to continue for at least the next four years at a place which he calls his home.
“It’s hard to put into words what this new contract means to me,” Herrick told whufc.com. “I’ve been here since I was six years old and to put pen to paper once again at this great Club is such an incredible feeling. West Ham have moulded me into the player and man I am today, and I am forever grateful to this Club.”
After spending pre-season with the first team during their trips to Austria and Florida, and making an excellent start to the Premier League 2 campaign, Herrick says he is relishing every opportunity he gets to learn and further develop his craft alongside the Hammers’ first team squad.
Finlay also burst onto the international stage this term, being called up by England Under-19s for the first time in September, while he was part of the FA Youth Cup-winning squad in 2023 against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.
“It’s something that you kind of dream of doing [training with the first team],” he beamed. “To train with players that you grew up watching and idolising can be quite surreal. Xavi [Valero] is an incredible coach, and I’ve learned a lot from him as I have from Alphonse [Areola], Łukasz [Fabiański] and Wes [Foderingham]. All you’ve got to do is watch them for a day, and you get a glimpse of the level you need to be at. Every time I come off the training pitch, I’ve got a smile on my face because it’s another step in the right direction in my career.
“Billy Lepine (Head of Academy Goalkeeping) has coached me since I was six, and everything I’ve learned about goalkeeping has come through him. He’s also played a massive role in my journey.
“The Youth Cup was an amazing experience for all of us. Playing in front of 30,000 fans at the Emirates and winning was a dream come true. After lifting the trophy, it felt as if time just stood still, and it meant a lot to the players, staff and the Club. With England, we’re now at the age where you get caps for the season, so it was a bit of a surreal moment. We’ve played the Netherlands and Italy this year already, and you still get that little bit of excitement every time you step onto the pitch.”
As for what is next in terms of his own development, the goalkeeper admitted his ambition now is to feature in the first team in the future.
“To keep playing games with the U21s and to stay around the first team is the ultimate goal,” he added. “Hopefully in the next few years I can get the chance to show what I can do.”
West Ham United Sporting Director Mark Noble has long been an admirer of Herrick and his potential. As someone who, like Herrick, has spent his life at West Ham, Noble has high hopes for the young goalkeeper.
“I’ve seen Finlay come through as a young boy, and I know he’s one of the best goalkeepers in his age group,” said Noble. “He’s got fantastic attributes, is big, commanding, comfortable with the ball at his feet and has rare qualities where he actually enjoys the tough side of things when it comes to goalkeeping.
“I know Xavi [Valero] our goalkeeping coach thinks really highly of Finlay, and it was one of our big objectives to get him signed up on a longer-term contract. We really, really like him here, and that’s why we’ve given him a new contract.
“He’s still got to work hard every day and learn from the other goalkeepers to become an even better goalkeeper himself. I really do believe he can have a successful career in the game, as he is such a talented boy.”
Everyone at West Ham United would like to congratulate Finlay on signing his new contract and wish him every success for his future career in Claret and Blue.
