Where ex-West Ham 'wonderkid' is trying to win contract after summer release

Dan Rigge is looking to write the next chapter of his career following his West Ham United release.

The 20-year-old joined West Ham in December 2021, having previously been with Manchester City.

An attacking midfielder, it was in the Academy of Football that he earned four England caps at Under-16 level.

Rigge would make 52 appearances for West Ham's Under-18s and 31 for the Under-21s, scoring a total of 17 goals - as per FotMob.

He was even part of the U18 Hammers side that won the FA Youth Cup as well as the Premier League South title too.

Rigge signed his first professional contract with West Ham in 2024, but wasn't able to make the first-team grade at the London Stadium.

Why Dan Rigge could be set to join new elite English academy

West Ham are renowned as having one of the top academies in English football.

As such, it can be extremely hard to make the senior side as a young player coming through, and it's even harder staying there - just ask Freddie Potts.

However, another club with a Category One academy like West Ham is Middlesbrough, and that's where Rigge could get his career back on track.

Detailed in a report from Teesside Live, Boro have taken Rigge on trial following his release from West Ham at the end of the 2025-26 season.

It's claimed that the length of his trial isn't clear, nor whether he will be offered a contract by Boro.

The report cites an old claim from The Sun which labelled Rigge as a 'wonderkid' when he was just 16, at the time when he was moving from Man City to West Ham.

But why may Rigge have already done enough to win a deal with Middlesbrough earlier this week?

How well did Rigge play in double-digit Middlesbrough win?

Tuesday afternoon saw Middlesbrough's Under-21s take on Hartlepool United in the National League Cup.

Boro thrashed the National League side 10-0, with Rigge starting the game on the left of a front three.

He played 53 minutes before being replaced, but he was able to provide an assist for Middlesbrough's opening goal of the game after just five minutes.

Per FotMob, Rigge completed 16 of his 19 pass attempts successfully, created five chances and had one shot blocked.

Meanwhile, he also played two passes into the final third, made four recoveries, won one foul and was accurate with his lone cross attempt.

So, the ex-West Ham starlet is sure to have made a strong impression on Middlesbrough, and has done himself no harm in earning a contract with the Teessiders.