West Ham United’s first-team gave their Premier League survival prospects an almighty shot in the arm by beating Fulham in midweek. And, at academy level, Greg Lincoln’s Under-21s are giving Nuno Espirito Santo’s seniors a run for their money.
During the month of February, the Hammers’ reserves played seven matches in league and cup, both domestic and continental. They won four of them.
The star man of 2026 so far, Josh Ajala has been in ‘unplayable’ form. Left-back Regan Clayton has not been too shabby himself, taking his tally to seven assists while setting up goals against Crystal Palace and Leicester City in Premier League 2.
Fortunately, Fabrizio Romano was very wrong…
What should the next steps for Josh Ajala be at West Ham?
As a result, Ajala and Clayton are both up for the competition’s Player of the Month award.
This is actually the first time two West Ham United players have been competing for the gong since Lewis Orford and Kamarai Swyer found themselves on the shortlist back in April 2025.
Josh Ajala up for Player of the Month award at West Ham United
Eleven months on, Orford remains on the fringes of Nuno Espirito Santo’s first-team squad.
He featured against Burton Albion in the FA Cup fourth round, and will hope to be involved again on Monday. Nuno could ring the changes as Brentford arrive at the London Stadium, a place in the quarter finals on the line.
Kamarai Swyer left to join Kevin Nolan’s Northampton Town, though, after finishing 2024/25 as the Hammers’ top scorer at Under-21 level. The winger has made 27 appearances for the League One relegation battlers, though only ten of those have been starts.
Orford beat Swyer to the Player of the Month prize eleven months ago.
And despite Clayton’s best efforts, Ajala looks like the Hammers’ best bet for February 2026. Ajala’s ‘magic’ secured West Ham a National League Cup final berth, though that will not count in his favour in a Premier League 2-specific award.
He does have eight goal contributions in his last seven PL2 matches, though, including five in four February outings.
As for Clayton, the London-born 21-year-old has effortlessly filled a void created by the departure of Greg Lincoln’s old assist king.
Emeka Adiele joined FC Utrecht of the Eredivisie on transfer deadline day. Clayton has since taken up the creative mantle down the left-hand side with very impressive results. He has four assists in his last six games, helping the Hammers climb to eighth in a 29-team competition.
Who do YOU want to see start v Brentford in the FA Cup? 🏆
Nuno is expected to ring the changes…
Ajala signs new contract after holding talks over summer exit
West Ham, then, account for a quarter of that PL2 shortlist.
Manchester United striking sensation Chido Obi is also in the running after his four-goal haul against Leicester City. Arsenal duo Tommy Setford and Brayden Clarke are nominated, alongside Man City pair Matty Warshurt and Kian Noble, plus Rio Kyerematen of Tottenham Hotspur.
In another major positive to come out of their academy, Josh Ajala signed a new contract with West Ham on Friday. He was due to become a free agent in the summer and, according to Fabrizio Romano, Ajala held talks with French and German clubs.
Now, though, he has been tied down until 2028 at the earliest.
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