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Alese signs professional deal

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West Ham United have announced that highly-rated centre-back Ajibola Alese has put pen to paper on his first professional contract at the London Stadium.

As reported on the club’s official website, the 17-year-old enforcer has agreed terms on a three-year deal with the Hammers, extending a stay at the club that began when he was seven years old.

Alese has enjoyed a brilliant year with the Irons, turning out for the Under-23s for the first time while also playing for England at the Under-17 European Championships.

OPINION

This is brilliant news for the Hammers, who have tied down one of their best young talents to a three-year deal. Alese has made huge strides in the past 12 months, and barring injury, the young enforcer could have made even more progress than he already has. Looking to the future, Alese will now be hoping to establish himself as a regular in the club’s development side before eventually pushing on in the hunt for a first-team breakthrough. A loan spell away from the club may also happen at some point when he is ready for first-team football. The youngster certainly has many good role models that have trodden this path in recent years, including Declan Rice, Reece Burke and Reece Oxford, all of whom have gone on to first-team berths from the academy. He will hopefully push on in the knowledge that a first-team breakthrough is there to be had, and the Hammers faithful could have another academy graduate gracing the first-team at the London Stadium very soon. 

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