19-year-old Hammer signs contract extension

Unfortunately, not Jeremy Ngakia but the player in question is managed by the same agent which gives a small element of hope on the other 19-yar-old client of Playerworks.

The Academy starlet Bernardo Rosa has signed a two-year contract extension with West Ham. The 19-year-old Brazilian has joined Under-23s team-mates Olatunji Akinola, Alfie Lewis, Emmanuel Longelo and Sean Adarkwa, who all recently signed deals, in extending his stay in east London.

Rosa began his career as an attacking midfielder, making his U18s debut for the Hammers in 2016 at just 16. Rosa transitioned to the U23s last summer and, over 24 appearances in 2019/20, began to apply his trademark diligence to the position of full-back, attaining two goals, five assists and a Premier League 2 Player of the Month nomination for November.

Rosa will now hope to use this extension as an opportunity to further his development with the Academy and realise his first-team aspirations in the future.

“I’m really happy to sign a new contract with West Ham,” Rosa told whufc.com.

“I would like to thank my parents for everything they have done for me – they’ve always supported me in my goals – and all of my coaches. I’m grateful to them.

“Last season was my best so far – I worked really hard in training and feel like I improved a lot, and I was happy I could show that work in my performances. 

“Over the next two years, my personal goal is to break into the first-team squad and establish myself there, and I’m ready to keep working hard to do so.”