During the current “soap opera” season at West Ham United, some fans have questioned Mark Noble’s role at the club.
As Sporting Director, he sits at the centre of the club’s long-term football strategy but has deliberately stepped back from the public eye. As a consequence, this has naturally raised questions about his influence on academy players, contract situations and recent youth departures.
Noble was appointed Sporting Director in January 2023, a role that places him across recruitment, academy development and broader football operations. His remit is especially focused on the youth pathway, ensuring the club’s best prospects have a clear route into senior football.
He also works closely with Academy Manager Kenny Brown as part of a refreshed coaching structure designed to continue producing first-team-ready players.
When he took on the role, the brief was clear: oversee youth development and monitor the progress of Under-18 and Under-21 players; support first-team recruitment and long-term squad planning; act as a bridge between the board, coaching staff and academy; and help shape the club’s football identity and culture.
It could be argued that Noble’s low public profile is not a sign of inactivity. Instead, it reflects the nature of his job and the club’s current direction.
Academy Turnover Raises Questions
Noble’s focus on youth development means he often shields young players from media pressure. His silence is partly a way of keeping the spotlight off teenagers still finding their feet.
However, that has not stopped supporters raising concerns over the high turnover in the academy.
Josh Ajala has been one of the standout performers for the Under-21s, emerging as a promising No.9. Yet, with his contract set to expire in the summer, he is assessing wider options and has yet to feature in Nuno Espírito Santo’s first-team plans.
Emeka Adiele, an 18-year-old full-back who had been with West Ham since the age of nine and was tracked by several European clubs, recently joined FC Utrecht. In the same window, Elisha Sowunmi, a promising young attacker, joined north London rivals Spurs and was considered one of West Ham’s brightest academy talents.
Kyran Thompson completed a move to Arsenal FC in September 2024 for a fee of £1.1 million, aged just 15, and was playing for their Under-18s by 2025.
Riley Ebho, a right-back, moved to Chelsea FC from West Ham in October 2025, signing a professional contract this month.
In 2024, Xavier Parker and Divin Mubama moved to Manchester City FC.
This has caused some supporters to point the finger in Noble’s direction and, in fairness, it is his responsibility to minimise unnecessary departures by improving the pathway and ensuring the academy remains attractive.
Equally, not every departure can be prevented. Some players leave for strategic reasons, others for personal ones, and some because the club believes their long-term prospects lie elsewhere.
Mark Noble’s silence should not be mistaken for absence. His work is structural, cultural and long-term — the kind that rarely makes headlines but shapes the club’s future.
Noble is doing what he has always done for West Ham: serving the club, not himself.
I’ve said this on multiple occasions
Name me a player who’s left that would get in the first team now? Can you? Didn’t think so
I mean there’s not a lot he can realistically do if the manager doesn’t want to play the youth players
Joe, did you give that any thought at all before posting? Are you really suggesting Nuno won’t play young players? Scarles, Mayers, Kante, Marshall, Potts, Orford spring to mind……… have I missed any?
If I was I was Noble and in charge of Academy development I would be pretty chuffed with that progression of players.
For balance you should show the youth players we have poached from other clubs. Also I wouldn’t be surprised if some of these young players miss the influence of Mark Robson, Steve Potts and Kevin Keen.
Only a small percentage of the youth talent will find top tier success , however if Westham are relegated a lot of positions will open up in the first team as the best players leave . Particularly now Westham and Noible should have that situation covered if the worst happens .
It would be interesting to know how the outgoings and incomings compare to previous years and with other clubs, do you have that info Matt ?
When we look at the players that have left even high profile ones such as Sonny Perkins or Divin Mubama how many have gone on to be first team players in the Pl ?
Josh Cullen would be one but it’s hard to identify others, so is it a problem and when you look at how many academy players have played minutes this season is it actually a success not a failure of Noble ?
I’m afraid with the current outrageous situation at West Ham I have lost all respect I have had for former players who have West Ham as their paymaster. I’m pretty sure Brooking is still getting paid something for his role at West Ham (I could be wrong) he was a true legend. But the whole set up is such a fiasco I would like to see these past favourites leave the sinking ship and distance themselves from this calamitous board. They must have enough money and must see how much damage the board are doing to our club and so you are guilty by association
Maybe this is a good time then, given the financial status of the club, to list his basic salary and his achievements in line with this definition of his role? As a player, it was never difficult to determine his added value to the club, now, it needs explanation.
I am sure Noble is doing everything in his power to keep our best young players.
I am sure he is not involved in the contracts which lies with the owners, who are letting them slip away leaving there contract to expire.
If they are good they should never get to that stage a new contract should be in place before this happens
A typical poor running of our club again.
We have youngsters crying out to be given a chance, but leaves because they see no hope.
Yet we buy youngsters in and give them a chance straight away does not make sense
Not sure which club you are talking about Sue but it’s certainly not West Ham.
Scarles, Mayers, Potts, Kante, Marshall and Orford have all been given first team chances this season. I doubt that you will find a Premier League side that eclipses that record.
All very well being negative, but let’s have it right.
Let’s see a list of all these great players we’ve let go over the last decade that have excelled elsewhere in the league,
Grady Diangana Anyone
Most of these players will pre-date Noble’s involvement in the academy. And loads will never make it st the top level anyway. Divin Mubama is a red herring… City just picked him up as a home grown quota player, and have loaned him out since. Overall he’s done ok in the Championship outside a couple of hot streaks. Whether he’ll make it at Prem level I’m doubtful of, but he definitely got too big for his boots and had unreasonable demands.