Josh Ajala is the name on the lips of many West Ham United supporters this week, and with good reason.
One year after the teenage forward fired the Hammers’ Under-18s to Premier League Cup glory – he scored both goals in the final against Reading in 2025 – Ajala’s late brace saw off Tamworth to seal a spot in the National League Cup final against Boreham Wood.
So if West Ham United’s first-team need a goal against Brentford in the FA Cup fifth round, we’d recommend chucking on the 19-year-old cup specialist. Josh Ajala appears to have a habit of stepping up to the plate when required in knockout football, after all.
Fortunately, Fabrizio Romano was very wrong…
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Preston Fearon, the midfielder who opened the scoring in that 3-1 victory over Tamworth on Tuesday night, could not speak highly enough of a striker who has now scored ten goals in 18 matches since stepping up from the Under-18s to the Under-21s.
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Preston Fearon raves about ‘magic’ Josh Ajala as West Ham United reach cup final
Speaking to the club’s official website, Fearon reflected on a topsy-turvy night of action, in which goalkeeper Fin Herrick saved a crucial penalty and Ajala fired West Ham into the final despite Luis Brown’s red card with over 20 minutes remaining.
“Obviously we knew it was going to be a lot, lot harder [with ten men], but I knew Fin was going to save it [the penalty]. I said to everyone, this is fine, he’s got it, make sure to get the rebound,” Fearon says.
“From there, you gain a bit of momentum, the crowd’s still behind them, but you gain that bit of momentum.
“And then all you need is one chance for Josh for him to do his magic.”
Shifting the ball onto his right foot, Ajala blasted the decisive goal past the Tamworth goalkeeper with immense power and no shortage of accuracy. And, after the opposition glovesman went up the other end in a desperate attempt to snatch an equaliser, Ajala made sure by simply sauntering into the open net.
“I was on the other side of the box, it’s like time just stood still,” Fearon smiles. “I’m just watching [Ajala’s shot] and I’ve seen it going back in there. Obviously all our fans have come as well, they’ve gone crazy and I’m just running up.
“It feels like you’ve scored, that’s how good it feels.”
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Ajala could leave the Hammers with interest from France and Germany
Dust off your Rio Ferdinand gifs, write the number down, and slap that contract onto the table.
As Fabrizio Romano explained last month, clubs in Turkey and Germany have held talks with Ajala. He is due to become a free-agent in the summer. Now, there have been rumblings in the last few days about a potential agreement regarding fresh terms.
Fearon and co will be hoping such claims are true.
Ajala is just hoping the West Ham fans make the trip when Greg Lincoln’s side take on Boreham Wood in the National League Cup final. Considering how well supported the Under-21s have been throughout the entire season, you can bet they will.
“Having the fans’ backing means a lot to us,” Ajala said after his two-goal heroics. “The fans, they help us players a lot. They drive us to keep going in difficult moments in the game.
“Obviously, it would mean a lot to us to have them backing us at Boreham Wood in the final.”
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