‘What a player’ – Ex-Hammer lauds new Iron

Former West Ham ace Freddie Sears has hailed Flynn Downes after he completed his move to the Hammers.

Downes became the club’s third signing of the summer after the arrivals of Nayef Aguerd and Alphonse Areola.

Sears, who came through the Hammers academy, spent four years in the Irons first-team before moving on to Colchester United and then finding himself at Ipswich.

Sears played for the Tractor Boys between 2015 and 2021, and played alongside Downes 49 times, according to the club’s official website.

And the ex-Iron believes that Downes is a top player in waiting, who will work his way into the hearts of the London Stadium faithful.

He said: “Flynny – what a player! 

“I think you could tell when he came through at Ipswich that he was going to go all the way and he had all the attributes to take him to the top. He’s a good footballer, good on the ball and a really good athlete.

“He gets around the pitch well and loves a tackle. He obviously did really well at Ipswich, then went to Swansea and kicked on again and now he’s got the move of his dreams to his boyhood club West Ham.”

Downes is a boyhood Irons fan, as is Sears, and it appears the Irons may well have got themselves something of a bargain by bringing the 23-year-old into the club.

Sears, by comparison, is continuing to play at the age of 32 and is in the midst of a second spell at Colchester.

 

About Dave Langton

A journalist with 10 years' experience of working on National newspapers, now chief reporter covering the club that I've loved since I was a boy. Upton Park remains the greatest football stadium ever built.