If there is even the slightest hint of a silver lining surrounding the dark clouds hanging over the London Stadium, it is that West Ham United is home to numerous young talents who will fancy their chances of stepping up in the second-tier.
Relegation in 2003 saw Joe Cole, Jermain Defoe, David James and co depart.
Two years later, Alan Pardew would bring Premier League football back to Upton Park, powered by a new generation of homegrown talent led by Mark Noble, Anton Ferdinand and Nigel Reo-Coker.
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Two decades later, with Mateus Fernandes, Crysencio Summerville, Axel Disasi, Dinos Mavropanos and potentially Jarrod Bowen packing their bags, Freddie Potts, Ezra Mayers and Mohamadou Kante will be hoping to prove that an inevitable summer exodus could have long-term benefits.
Here are the ten West Ham United youngsters we, at Hammers News, feel could have a big part to play in 2025/26.
1) Freddie Potts
Barking-born Freddie Potts earned Portsmouth’s Young Player of the Year award during his one and only second-tier campaign in 2024/25. The industrious midfielder played 37 times as Pompey finished on the right side of the dotted line.
A strong omen, indeed. Do not be surprised to see Potts rack up similar numbers next term in his beloved claret and blue.
Potts fell out of favour under Nuno Espirito Santo following a promising breakthrough last autumn. But considering that the Hammers will likely enjoy far higher possession statistics in 2026/27, Potts’ sharp, tidy distribution could see him become their tempo-setting beat-master in the centre of the park.
2) Mohamadou Kante
If Potts is destined to be the man who makes West Ham tick in the Championship, then Mohamadou Kante is the box-to-box dynamo who could slot in alongside him. The former Paris FC kid made 11 substitute appearances in the Premier League, and possesses physical, athletic qualities far beyond his years.
Kante has frequently been compared to a young Patrick Vieira. With Mateus Fernandes certain to leave and Tomas Soucek turning 32 in February, a Potts/Kante midfield may yet possess the perfect blend of panache and power.
3) Ollie Scarles
Manchester United are looking closely at El Hadji Malick Diouf, meaning West Ham will likely to be offered the chance to make a quick profit on their £19 million left-back. In Ollie Scarles, Diouf’s replacement is already waiting patiently in the wings.
Scarles has played 28 Premier League games since his debut in December 2024. And while he still has more rough edges than a secondary schooler’s woodwork project, the 20-year-old could only benefit from a regular spot in the starting XI against lesser opposition.
4) Ezra Mayers
Mayers is another, like Kante, who was handed his debut in the middle of 2025/26. He too racked up a healthy tally of substitute appearances under Nuno Espirito Santo, looking pretty solid whenever he was called upon.
The thing that really stands Mayers in good stead, though, is his versatility. A left-sided centre-back by trade, Mayers earned praise from the likes of Joe Cole when given a chance at left-back in the FA Cup.
Whether as a regular starter or a back-up option, expect the Wanstead-born teenager to rack up plenty of minutes over the next 15 months.
5) George Earthy
Extremely highly regarded behind the scenes at Rush Green, Earthy struggled during an ill-fated return to Bristol City in January. Yet, like Potts, he claimed the Young Player of the Year award during his one and only full season at Championship level, so will go into pre-season determined to make the step up permanent.
The England Under-21 international loves to pick up the ball between the lines or carry it forward from deep. David Moyes even likened Earthy to David Silva following his first senior goal against Luton Town in 2024.
West Ham do not currently have an attacking midfielder of his ilk in the first-team picture.
6) Callum Marshall
As things stand, Callum Wilson will leave when his contract expires while reports say that Taty Castellanos is keen to get out while he still can. Pablo Felipe could very well be West Ham’s only natural, first-team centre-forward come July, then. Although Callum Marshall may have something to say about that.
Then again, the tireless Northern Irishman hardly set the world alight with two goals in 16 games on loan at Bochum in Germany’s second tier. Furthermore, one suspects his parent club will look to sign two strikers minimum this summer.
Hence why he is not higher up on this list.
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7) Finlay Herrick
The ‘brilliant’ Finlay Herrick clearly isn’t short of confidence. If he was to go into next season as the club’s number one, expect Herrick to approach the challenge with the same bravado he demonstrated during that penalty shoot-out defeat to Leeds in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
However, Hammers News predict that Mads Hermansen will remain the first-choice goalkeeper for the time being.
Herrick, then, will probably either start the season as back-up, or on loan at a lucky League One or League Two outfit.
8) Josh Ajala
Scorer of 13 goals for the Under-21s, Josh Ajala has been ‘unplayable’ throughout most of 2026. No wonder West Ham were so keen to tie him down to a new contract.
A speedy, silky forward, Ajala can play all across the frontline. The potential departures of Summerville, Castellanos and Bowen could therefore open up a window of opportunity.
Although, having not yet made a single senior appearance, time will tell if Ajala is ready to make the transition.
Who will be the next breakout star from our academy?
Ezra Mayers and Lewis Orford are developing very nicely… 🌟
9) Daniel Cummings
Following an injury-hit start to life this side of the border, former Celtic sensation Cummings is showing West Ham what all the fuss is about. In his final six Premier League 2 outings, the Scot scored three times and set up another.
Unlike Ajala, a modern wide forward, Cummings is something of a throwback; a broad-shouldered, square-jawed number nine. If West Ham cannot find adequate attacking reinforcements in the market, their next head coach may look a little closer to home.
10) Lewis Orford
A loan spell at Stevenage backfired badly for Orford in the first half of last season. However, a terrific final few months with the Under-21s makes the upcoming pre-season a very big one indeed. Orford, who combines technical qualities with real box-crashing potential, could find himself in an intriguing battle with the aforementioned Earthy.
Notable other candidates
The magisterially-gifted Preston Fearon will look to showcase his swagger and his new-found goalscoring streak. Tyron Akpata is the sort of tough-tackling number six the club currently lacks.
Josh Landers, Mason Terry and Airidas Golambeckis – the latter first captained the Under-21s at the age of just 17 – will hope to nick in ahead of Cummings, Herrick and Mayers.
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