Declan Rice sends message to Ollie Scarles as he signs West Ham United contract
Declan Rice has sent a brilliant two-word message to West Ham youngster Ollie Scarles on Instagram after he signed his first professional contract at the club on Tuesday (13 December).
Scarles celebrated his 17th birthday on Monday 12 December by putting pen to paper on his new deal after impressing heavily for the U18s this campaign.
He has been outstanding at the club’s academy levels and made his first-team debut in the UEFA Europa Conference League Group B match away to FCSB
“A very proud and exciting moment for me and my family signing my first professional contract. Thank you to all the people around me for helping me throughout my journey so far. I can’t wait to see how the future unfolds,” wrote Scarles.
“Keep pushing,” replied Rice.
Role model
The youngster is a fantastic talent and the club rate him highly.
He can follow in the footsteps of Rice who has progressed through the youth ranks at the club to become the captain of the senior side.
The Hammers academy has produced great talents over the years, but it is important for the club to keep hold of them.
During the summer, the club lost Sonny Perkins to Leeds United while Harrison Ashby is almost certain to leave the club.
Of course, the manager will want his West Ham first team to be competitive, but nurturing young talents is equally important. David Moyes has a great track record of grooming young talents, and Scarles can expect to get regular opportunities if he does well.
The youngster has got brilliant technical abilities, and he is a superb passer of the ball. He scored a stunning free-kick [11 November] for the Under-21 side against Tottenham Hotspur, showcasing his control and technique over the ball.