West Ham Chairman David Gold has confirmed the Hammers had to fend off interest from Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal to sign Reece Oxford to a long term contract.

“We had to beat off Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal to keep Reece Oxford on a long term deal.” Gold told his 123,000 followers on twitter.

Recent media reports also suggested Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur also tried to lure him away.On 11th January 2015, Oxford signed a long-term professional contract committing his future to West Ham.

Reece became the Hammers’ youngest ever player this summer, having played in the Europa League in July age 16 years and 198 days, when that match was played, he was 23 days younger than previous youngest player Billy Williams, who made his debut in 1922.

Reece joined West Ham at under-13 level after leaving Tottenham.

‘I was at Tottenham for a while, but they did not want me, and I went to West Ham, which was the best option for me,’ said Oxford,‘I was a striker back then (at Spurs)”

Oxford started the first two games of the Premier League this season against Arsenal and Leicester City and came on as a 82nd substitute in our 3-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield. When he made his Premier League against Arsenal he was just 16 years and 236 days.

Reece Oxford became the second-youngest player ever to start a Premier League match after Jose Baxter of Everton who was 16 years and 198 days when he made his debut in 2008. Wayne Rooney is in third place as he was 16 years and 297 days when he made his debut for Everton in 2002.