Another Academy prospect has left West Ham, having rejected a new one and a half year contract, with West Ham retaining the option of another year.
According to a report in the Evening Standard, winger, Favour Fawunmi is likely to join Greek side PAOK on a three year deal.
The eighteen year old suffered an injury last season, with West Ham offering him a short term contract that expired on January 31st. Having joined the Hammers aged 15 he progressed through the ranks impressing with his speed, flair and skill on the left wing. In the Under-18s double season he scored ten goals in twenty-four appearances.
Favour Fawunmi – rejected a West Ham contract
So far this season he has made four appearances for the U-21 team, and spent some time at Championship club QPR on trial last February.
While many former academy players have faced challenges since leaving the London Stadium, only time will tell if Fawunmi has made the right choice for his career: Sean covered yesterday the career of former Hammer Sonny Perkins who chose to reject a West Ham contract in favour of a move to Leeds. In his case the move failed and Perkins has had to drop down to third tier Orient to try and get his career back on track.
Just because these youngsters don’t make premier league quality doesn’t make the academy a failure if these lads can make a decent living doing something they enjoy it’s no failure you have to remember only the cream will rise to the top we were spoilt a number of years ago when we produced cole Carrick Ferdinand lampard Johnson etc all close together that was just a freak occurrence now it’s back to normal
Andy ’74…
Spot on.
You keep punting this crap about youngsters not doing well who leave, but which ones that have stayed have broken into the first team regularly – nobody! So, the argument has no basis other than to say none of them have been good enough.
I think they do and the lower leagues (including non-league) are full of them, but none of the higher profile departures over the past 4 or 5 years would have made if they stayed anyway so it’s always a hard decision for a young player to make. Let’s hope whoever advises them has their best interested at heart.
Latest in long list of Academy failures once they leave West Ham. I remember all the fuss when Perkins left for more money etc. I wonder if other Academies have the same high failure rate.