Nine youngsters sign

Nine academy youngsters have signed full-time scholarship forms with West Ham, the club have confirmed.

The nonet have put pen to paper and will now aim to make a real impact in the academy before potentially progressing through the ranks.

Tyron Akpata, Ryan Battrum, Sebastian Boothe, Favour Fawunmi, Finlay Herrick, Liam Jones, Lewis Orford, Oliver Scarles and Jemiah Umolu have all added their signatures to full-time scholarship deals.

Orford and Scarles are perhaps the most advanced of the group, with the pair both playing regularly for the club’s Under-18 side.

A number of the other players have been on the bench regularly for the youth team, while Herrick, a goalkeeper, and Akpata, have played for the U16s this season.

Academy manager Ricky Martin welcomed the group, the club’s website says, before they were then introduced to Hammers legend Trevor Brooking.

The group will now aim to play regular U18 football and then look to progress through the age groups.