West Ham United teen sensation Ollie Scarles signs first professional contract
West Ham teen sensation Ollie Scarles has signed his first professional contract at the club’s iconic Chadwell Heath training ground, the club has confirmed on their official website (13 December).
The “versatile” midfielder has pen-to-paper on his first professional contract after impressing heavily for the U18s this campaign.
His impressive form in 2022/23 saw him make his first-team debut in the UEFA Europa Conference League Group B match away to FCSB, a game the Hammers won 3-0 in Bucharest.
Fantastic news
The Hammers academy has produced some fantastic talents over the years who have gone on to become established stars in the Premier League, and Scarles has the talent to be a regular member of the senior side for years to come.
On 11 November, Scarles scored a stunning free-kick for the Under-21 side against Tottenham Hotspur, and the club’s Twitter handle wrote “take a bow”.
He celebrated his 17th birthday on Monday 12 December by penning his first professional contract, and there’s more to come from him.
The Hammers, however, must ensure they don’t lose their precious talent. In recent years, the club lost Sonny Perkins to Leeds United while Harrison Ashby is also heading for the exit.
The youngster has got a fantastic passing range and hopefully, he can now be included in the Premier League match-day squads.
He can follow the blueprint left by Declan Rice at West Ham, and hopefully, he can do justice to his potential.