Every year, around just before halfway through the season clubs across the country begin to make the tough decisions on which players in their U16 sides will be offered scholarships. Whilst the decisions at West Ham were made a couple of months ago, it’s time to reveal the prospective intake for the summer of 2019.

Starting at the back, two goalkeepers will form part of the group. Serine Sanneh is a name quite a few West Ham fans will be familiar with, having been named on the U18s bench whilst just an U13 back in 2015/16. The acrobatic shot-stopper, despite not being the most tall of goalkeepers, has impressed consistently, being involved with the U18s at a young age and even being named on the U23s bench. With Daniel Jinadu being out on the sidelines for the majority of the campaign, he has stepped in well, making 12 appearances. He is also an England youth international, and is tipped for big things.

Josh Roach is the other goalkeeper. Another solid custodian, Josh is yet to make his U18s debut but has been on the bench several times and has also been named on the U23s bench too. Similar to Sanneh, he has attended England youth training camps before. Despite tough competition in Sanneh and Jinadu, there’s no stopping him from staking a claim to be the no. 1 for the U18s in 2019/20.

Left-back Josh Wilson-Esbrand has been a regular for the U18s this season, making 14 appearances (12 of them starts). Yet another England youth international, he is a strong full-back who is a threat going forward, whilst having the ability to fill in at centre-back if required. Competing with him for a place in the starting XI will be yet another England youth international in Jayden Fevrier. Versatile Fevrier, who can play as a full back or as a winger on either flank, has already made his U23 debut, coming on against Leicester City back in November. He has been another regular for the U18s, scoring twice in twelve appearances.

Centre-back Brandon Thomas is yet to feature for the U18s, but the South London native was named on the bench last season. The powerful defender is comfortable on the ball and has been a key figure for the U16s this season. He will be hoping to be a regular in the U18s next season as the likes of Aji Alese move up into the U23s on a full time basis. Moving onto midfield, there are several central midfielders who have been offered deals, including Iyiola Adebayo, a tall, intelligent player capable of playing some fantastic passes who has been a key player for the U16s, who made his U18 debut as a substitute against Swansea City back in January.

Ben Heal is one of the newer members of the group having joined from non-league Cambridge City back as an U14, whilst the box-to-box Michael Adu has been named on the U18s bench once. Slovakian attacking midfielder Christian Veliky is set to join from SK Slavia Prague after impressing on trial in past months, whilst fellow attacker Kamarai Simon-Swyer is yet to feature with the U18s but scored a notable brace in an U17 friendly earlier on in the season.

Amadou Diallo is another well known member of the group having played a few U23s games this season despite his age. Whilst it still being a very early point in his career, he is one of the most well-thought of players in the academy, with the versatile youngster capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, a winger (either side but preferably the left) or even as a deep lying midfielder, having played as a striker too in his earlier days. Diallo will be a key player for the U18s but could even be moved up into the U23s, with even first team involvement in some capacity also a possibility.

Winger or striker Kai Corbett has made several appearances off the bench for the U18s after scoring regularly for the U16s, having also been in an England U15s training camp before. Striker Gael Kileba completes in the intake, another regular goalscorer for the U16s who made his U18 debut last season. It is a very strong group, perhaps one of the most exciting in recent seasons.

Unfortunately, there are players who have been let go. Defender Charlie O’Connell who is likely to link up with Peterborough United, right-sided player Geneiro Maragh, midfielders Evan Khouri and Josh Hinds, plus Harry Costa, who will be evaluated upon his return from injury. Of course, it is important to mention that any of the players offered deals can choose to sign elsewhere, and those who have been released may be brought back by the club.

In terms of second years, a handful have been informed their futures lie away from the club and are free to talk to other clubs. Defender Kevin Dalipi, who has found game time hard to come by during his scholarship, has been on trial with QPR in recent weeks, defensive midfielder Jay Mingi who has featured for both Sheffield United and Charlton, and attacker Odysseas Spyrides, who despite playing for the U18s yesterday, was featuring for Southampton a few weeks ago.

Aji Alese and Anouar El Mhassani have both signed professional deals and it is anticipated that Sean Adarkwa, Kris Belic, Reece Hannam, Emmanuel Longelo, Jeremy Ngakia, Bernardo Rosa and Louie Watson will step up to join them, but of course, similar to the U16s, any of the players set to depart could end up staying and anyone else who may seem to be staying could be let go.

I’d like to wish all the players, whether they are staying at West Ham or departing, the very best of luck for the future.