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Two young players of Nigerian heritage Rayan Oyebade and Lanre Awesu have signed their first professional contracts with Premier League club West Ham United, marking a significant step in their footballing careers.
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Defender Rayan Oyebade has been part of the Hammers' setup since the U14 level after impressing during a trial, having previously played at grassroots clubs Broadwater Farm and Focus Football. Now 17, he has represented West Ham in several competitions this season, including the U18 Premier League, Premier League 2, and the FA Youth Cup. Known for his maturity on the pitch, Oyebade has frequently captained the U18s and has previously represented England at U15 level, although he has not been called up since 2022.
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Lanre Awesu, who was officially offered a professional deal two days before Oyebade, has had a unique journey. Once a centre forward, he switched to goalkeeping five years ago a bold decision that has clearly paid off. He kept a clean sheet for England’s U17s in a 5-0 win over Northern Ireland in a European Championship qualifier last month, which also made him provisionally cap-tied to England. Before joining West Ham, Awesu had undergone a two-month trial at Norwich City, which ultimately passed up on signing him.
Editorial
The professional contracts signed by Rayan Oyebade and Lanre Awesu are not just personal milestones they are endorsements of Nigeria’s ever expanding influence on European football development systems. Both players have compelling backstories, marked by discipline, adaptability, and resilience.
Oyebade exemplifies the modern defender technically sound, tactically aware, and confident enough to lead even at youth level. His captaincy at West Ham U18s suggests leadership qualities that could serve both club and country in the near future. Awesu’s transformation from outfield player to international goalkeeper is equally impressive and speaks to his versatility and mental toughness.
These stories are reminders of how grassroots development remains crucial. Without early nurturing at Broadwater Farm or Focus Football, players like Oyebade may never have reached the professional ranks. Meanwhile, Awesu's initial rejection by Norwich City is proof that football pathways are rarely linear. What matters most is persistence and the right environment.
We must continue to watch these names closely. Their progress underlines a deeper need: for Nigeria to keep engaging its diaspora players early, offering them tangible reasons beyond sentiment to choose the Super Eagles over their country of birth. With the right encouragement, players like Oyebade and Awesu could become not just stars of the future, but also symbols of Nigeria’s growing global footprint in football.
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Did You Know?
Rayan Oyebade started at grassroots clubs that focus on community-based player development, with Focus Football being a London-based academy known for producing technically gifted players.
Lanre Awesu made the transition from striker to goalkeeper in his early teens, a rare shift at competitive level.
Oyebade has captained West Ham’s U18 side times this season—an uncommon honour for a first-year scholar.
Awesu’s clean sheet for England’s U17s was part of a European Championship qualifying match where he was one of the standout performers.
Norwich City, who passed up on Awesu, have previously been credited with scouting talents like James Maddison and Todd Cantwell through similar trial setups.