Josh Briggs became the latest young talent to join the Hammers from Northern Ireland when he signed from NIFL Premiership club Linfield in August 2022.

The defender put pen-to-paper on Scholarship terms with the Academy of Football, having impressed during his two years with the Blues. 

The centre-back would feature in 18 matches for the U18s during a superb 2022/23 season which saw the young Hammers win the FA Youth Cup as well as the U18 Premier League South. Briggs made an instant impact in the Youth Cup final, scoring with his first touch after coming on as a substitute at Emirates Stadium.

He signed his first professional contract with West Ham United on his 18th birthday in March 2024. In the summer of 2024, Briggs played every minute of Northern Ireland's UEFA U19 Euro campaign on home soil which saw them face Ukraine, Norway and Italy in Group A.