West Ham talent signs first professional contract after U18 exploits | OneFootball

West Ham United have secured the future of one of their brightest young talents, with 17-year-old Aaron Kamara putting pen to paper on his first professional contract.

The teenager, who has impressed at the Under-18 level, has expressed his excitement about extending his stay at the London Stadium.

While much of the recent focus has been on strengthening the squad with new signings, ensuring that promising academy players remain at the club is just as important.

Over the years, West Ham have seen several talented prospects slip through their grasp, with players like Aji Alese, Pierre Ekwah, and Divin Mubama moving on to seek greener pastures elsewhere.

In many cases, this has come back to haunt the club, as some of these prospects have gone on to develop into promising players.

Fortunately, the Hammers have avoided a repeat of that scenario with Kamara, who has committed his future to the club.

His performances at youth level have turned heads, and his development has been encouraging.

With a professional contract now out of the way, the youngster will now be looking to take the next steps in his journey toward first-team football.

“I’m delighted because not many people from where I am from get this opportunity, so I just want to take it with both hands and thank West Ham United for giving me the chance to showcase myself,” Kamara said.

“A huge thanks also goes to my parents for their support and for helping me get from south London all the way to Southend and then here. Without them, my journey up until now wouldn’t be possible.”

The arrival of Graham Potter as manager could work in Kamara’s favour. Potter has a reputation for nurturing young talent and integrating them into senior squads.

If the teenager continues his current trajectory, there is every chance he could earn a place in the first-team setup in the coming years.