The transfer window may be closed, but that hasn’t stopped business being done—much to West Ham’s frustration.
Despite the Hammers’ 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday, Evangelos Marinakis has wasted no time in striking back by poaching one of West Ham’s brightest young talents, Chinaza Nwosu.
The 17-year-old midfielder is regarded as one of the hottest prospects in the Academy and has already caught the eye of England coaches at St George’s Park, representing his country at U15, U16 and U17 level.
Nwosu had only just signed his first professional contract with West Ham earlier this year on his 17th birthday, but Forest have now swooped in. The Hammers have received only a small fee, thought to cover training costs, but the deal will still be a bitter pill for Academy staff and sporting director Mark Noble.
A club insider confirmed the move to Claret & Hugh, saying simply: “It was small money, but a fee.”
We’ve seen what happened to previous “wonder kids” who thought the grass was greener elsewhere. Let’s review it in five years time and see how far it got the kid.
Not sure if Josh Cullen is too old to count, but doing ok at Burnley. It’s very true there is a long list who left and didn’t make it, plus many so called wonder kids we signed never to see any success – many were goalkeepers and anyone remember Daniel Sjolund who Liverpool nicked off us? He never played any games for either club and while earning 37 caps for Finland played mainly in the Swedish League.
We’ve also let a lot go and regretted it. Ray Houghton being a classic example who scored for fun in the reserves.
To be fair, I can’t think of a single youngster who left us at Academy level or otherwise who is making it at Prem level.
Maybe there are, but most have gone on to fail.
I think you have to go back a bit Dan because there is nothing recent. Probably Stanislas or Leon Britton are the most recent and Kieran Richardson & Liam Ridgewell before?
Obviously Tony Adams & John Terry are the big ones but there is no doubt Mark Noble really wanted to keep this lad.
Matt Holland, Jimmy Bullard both had Premier League careers too.
John Terry joined Chelsea’s youth system at the age of 8.
Tony Adam’s joined Arsenals academy at the age of 11.
When were they supposed to have played for West Ham?