Report: West Ham sign young defender Justin Osagie from Southend
West Ham have reportedly completed the addition of young defender Justin Osagie from Southend United, according to All Nigeria Soccer.
The Nigerian football website reports that Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Wolves and Brighton had all tried to sign Osagie, 15, but had moves kicked into touch by Southend.
Despite the high interest and Southend’s reluctance to offload Osagie, West Ham are now set to pay a compensation fee for the versatile centre-back, who is reportedly eligible to play for Nigeria and is dubbed as a “talented teenager”.
All Nigeria Soccer adds that Osagie is “good on the ball, has good technical ability, reads the game well, has an eye for a pass, quick and is comfortable playing as a central midfielder”.
The youngster sounds like he could be quite the player in the future and you would imagine that a move to West Ham will prove more fruitful for him than staying put in Essex at League Two basement boys Southend.
Southend have had some success with their academy in the past.
Freddy Eastwood is a good example with the ex-Wales international starting off at Roots Hall before switching to West Ham.
Rangers and Finland international Glen Kamara was also on the books at Southend with the League Two club bringing the midfielder to English football in 2011 before he left for Arsenal.
It remains to be seen how Osagie will develop at Chadwell Heath but West Ham have some great facilities and superb coaches who will get the best out of the promising young defender, who reportedly has the FA keeping close tabs on him amid his dual eligibility to play for England and Nigeria.
In other West Ham news, here’s how Felipe Anderson has fared since he joined Porto on loan.