By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
Football transfer ITK Fabrizio Romano has revealed that West Ham have lost another academy youngster, this time to Newcastle United.
Earlier this week, Claret & Hugh reported how Tottenham Hotspur had beaten Arsenal to the signing of West Ham’s England Under-15 captain, Isaac Allen.
Well, it would now seem that lightning has struck twice, with talented Hammers full-back Kyle Healy choosing Tyneside over the West Ham Academy.
Another Young Talent Departs
Posting on X, Romano wrote:
“Newcastle have completed Kyle Healy deal today for the Academy as young fullback joins from West Ham.”
It is another disappointing departure for the Academy of Football, which has seen a number of highly-rated youngsters leave over the past couple of years.
Plenty Of Talent Still Remains
Another one bites the dust, I guess.
Having watched Airidas Golambeckis and Lewis Orford impress in West Ham’s victory over Stevenage this week, I’m still pretty content there’s plenty of talent left coming through the academy.
Good luck to Kyle Healy, but he’ll need it.
The last academy full-back to leave West Ham for Newcastle was Harrison Ashby, and he has now signed for Luton Town.
Hopefully, Golambeckis, Orford and the next generation can continue the Academy’s proud tradition of producing first-team footballers.
I think Ashby got more first team appearances under Moyes than he did in his whole time at Newcastle
as per the comments below Kris , Sonny Perkins , Emmanuel Longelo , Dapo Afolayan , even Aji Alese , the list goes on and on as there’s so many more , they’re still doing their thing and maybe not at the highest level but i’m sure that’s the case for all the clubs in the top divisions of the top leagues , just wish em all well , they’re not Pokémon , you just can’t’ catch ‘em all x
Harrison Ashby anyone? Who cares
We’ve also done our fair share of snapping up academy talent over the years. A certain Mr Defoe springs to mind.
But the surprising thing is that so few of the players enticed away either from us or by us seem to go on to really big things. At least as far as I can remember. Too much too young maybe.
Chances on Academy youngsters breaking through are pretty slim..you get the odd candidate that stands out and some good young players but just not good enough for the Prem or championship…how many have left and gone on to establish themselves in the first teams of those clubs? not many…So whilst it is sad they choose to go elsewhere the undeniable truth is most will not make it and spend life in the lower leagues..having a decent career but not the elite one they thought it would be….and let us see how many of our u21/23 side make the grade this season because if ever their was a time to come good it will be now or never for them.