Reece Oxford has pledged his future to West Ham

Reece Oxford has signed a new four-and-a-half year contract at West Ham.

The highly-rated central defender put pen to paper on a new deal on his 18th birthday on Friday following lengthy negotiations.

Oxford, whose previous contract expired in 2018, was linked with a move away from the Hammers, with Manchester United mooted as potential suitors.

"I am happy to have signed my new contract. There was a lot of speculation about my future but I am happy that it has been done and I can get back to football. I just want to kick on now," Oxford told the club's website.

"I have made my family proud and hopefully I have made the fans proud that I have signed a new contract. Hopefully I can get into the team and help them throughout the whole season.

"I have a good relationship with the gaffer and hopefully I can get a lot of game time here. I have seen some of the old players like Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand and I want to follow in their footsteps.

"Hopefully, I can become just as big as them or even bigger. Hopefully, I can step out and follow what they have achieved."

Oxford has featured just twice for Slaven Bilic's side this season, both appearances coming in the Europa League, and is currently recovering from an ankle ligament injury sustained in training.

"We wanted him to stay and the board did everything to keep him," Bilic said. "The interest from the other big clubs was real and that shows what a big talent he is.

"It is the right decision for him because we are a great club where he can become a top player.

"He has been out injured but he is now coming back and I believe in him a lot. He is a great prospect and is the leader of the pack when it comes to the younger players."

Oxford became the youngest Premier League player in the club's history when he started their opening game of the 2015/16 season - a 2-0 win away at Arsenal.

Oxford made his Premier League debut at the age of 16 away at Arsenal

He appeared a further six times in the Premier League as West Ham ended the season in seventh place - their highest finish in the top flight since 2002.

Oxford has also been capped by England in all age groups up to the U20 level.

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