Super talented teenager Josh Briggs has just signed his first professional contract with West Ham United.
Josh Briggs is one of the brightest young stars West Ham currently have in our academy, and he could well go on to emulate Declan Rice.
The 25-year-old was sensational for the Hammers after coming through our academy as a boy, before he left to join Arsenal last summer in a £105 million deal.
Whilst many West Ham fans were fuming with Dec for the way in which he left us to join a London rival, it would be silly to suggest that he was anything other than an incredible player for us.
So, could we have another Rice coming through the ranks?
Now, Briggs is a centre-half – the same position that Rice began his career playing for the Hammers’ youth teams. He is a similar size and stature to Dec and has all of the ingredients needed to emulate the Arsenal and England star.
The 18-year-old obviously could carry on playing as a central defender, but he has the ability and engine needed to transform into a midfielder if need be.
However, it doesn’t matter either way. He still could be our new Rice in the sense that he has the talent needed to go on and become one of the very best players in the Premier League, if he continues to work hard and applies himself properly off the pitch.
But what is he all about and can he really go on to become one of the best young players in the league?
Who is Josh Briggs as West Ham youngster signs professional contract
Born in March 2006, the young defender is a hugely exciting prospect.
Briggs has signed a long-term deal with the Hammers, and I think that is something to get really excited about.
Academy manager Kenny Brown absolutely raved about the talented teenager, as quoted by WHUFC.com:
“A first professional contract is a huge moment in any young footballer’s career, so we are all delighted to see Josh take the next step on his journey with West Ham United. Josh has earned his contract through his dedication both on and off the pitch. He is a popular member of the U18 squad, and we are all looking forward to seeing him develop further under the guidance of our U21 staff. He knows this is just the beginning of his career, though, and moving over to Rush Green will bring more challenges, but with the same positive attitude and mindset, we firmly believe he will give himself every opportunity to be a success. Josh and his family hugely deserve this moment, and we are all excited to see what comes next for him at the Club.”
The 18-year-old is a centre-back, and he graduated from the Irish FA JD Academy before joining Northern Irish side Linfield.
Briggs then joined West Ham in August 2022, and he has gone on to make 30 appearances for the under-18s and one for the under-21s (Transfermarkt).
The teenager scored with his first touch after coming on as a substitute at the Emirates Stadium in the FA Youth Cup final last season.
He stands at just under 6ft 2in tall, and has a terrific range of passing. He is more than comfortable with the ball at his feet, but is equally as good when mixing it physically with opposing strikers.
As mentioned earlier, Briggs possesses impressive stamina and athleticism, and i wouldn’t be surprised one little bit if he transforms into a box-to-box midfielder for the Hammers.
Josh Briggs undoubtedly has a really bright future with West Ham, and it will be very interesting to monitor his development over the next couple of years.
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