Reece Oxford will sign a new five year contract on his 18th birthday next Thursday committing himself as a Hammer until 2021. The contract is believed to be worth over £5m to the youngster plus a signing on bonus. The new package is set to double his current £10,000 per week wages. The centre back was linked to a move Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Bundesliga club Red Bull Leipzig over the summer in reality nothing could happen until he turned eighteen because of strict regulations.
The media had claimed Oxford was stalling on a new deal to run down his current two year contract which lasts until December 2017 at which point he would become a free agent. Had that happened West Ham would have had to settle with compensation set by an independent tribunal.
The signing of one of the best future centre backs in the country is a massive statement of intent that West Ham wants to build for the future and youth players believe they will get a better chance making the first team than at a top four club which often collect young players like trophies.
Great news!
The West Ham team of tomorrow will involve a nucleus of players, including, Oxford, Burke, Samuelsen, Browne, Fletcher, Martinez, with Aaron Cresswell as our captain. We’ll do well!
Sounds good but I don’t think Samuelson will make it.