West Ham make yet another big deal official and it could be just as important as Jarrod Bowen for the club’s future

Add as preferred source on Google

West Ham have made yet another big deal official and it could be just as important as Jarrod Bowen for the club’s future.

Jarrod Bowen really is the toast of West Ham right now.

After his Prague heroics Bowen has started the season on fire, scoring five goals and laying on two assists.

The Hammers star has earned a fully deserved recall to the England squad.

And everyone connected with West Ham has been celebrating after it was revealed Bowen has put pen to paper on a new SEVEN-YEAR deal after 18 months of negotiations.

It’s the longest contract ever handed to a Hammers player – eclipsing the six-and-a-half-year deal signed by Winston Reid previously.

Bowen has stated he wants to play for West Ham for the rest of his career.

Coming just months after captain Declan Rice pushed for a move to Arsenal, it has elevated Bowen to within touching distance of legend status – if he isn’t one already.

Bowen committing his future to West Ham speaks volumes for the direction the club is heading.

And the Hammers clearly aren’t messing around when it comes to tying down top talents.

Because West Ham have made yet another big deal official and it could be just as important as Bowen for the club’s future.

Last week we reported that coveted young attacking midfield star Dan Rigge was set to buck the trend of homegrown talent leaving the Hammers to sign a professional contract with the club.

A top Hammers News source confirmed Fabrizio Romano’s claims that Rigge was set to sign a new deal and added that the club were relieved given interest from four sides in the Premier League and two in La Liga.

Well now it’s official.

West Ham have confirmed Rigge, formerly of Man City’s academy, has signed professional deal with the Hammers.

Academy manager Kenny Brown and the player both revealed their delight that the deal is done in an announcement on West Ham’s website.

And as West Ham secure the services of a key first team star like Bowen, this sends out just as crucial a message.

Because there has been a worrying trend developing of West Ham losing some of their top young talent.

And it has not been a good look for the self-styled Academy of Football. Nor does it bode particularly well for the future.

England youth internationals Jamal Baptiste and Divine Mukasa have left West Ham to join Man City.

Last year another England youth star, Sonny Perkins, ditched the Hammers to move to Leeds.

And David Moyes was powerless to stop yet another highly-rated England youth international Amaro Nallo from joining Liverpool recently.

Homegrown captain and talisman Rice then pushed to join Arsenal in the summer and that trend extended to first team stars too.

So securing Bowen and a young emerging England player West Ham clearly hope will one day play alongside him in the first team, puts the club in superb shape and makes great optics too.

Rigge enjoyed an impressive debut season with the Hammers last term, featuring 24 times in all competitions and scoring two goals in victories against Brighton and Spurs.

The attacking midfielder helped Kevin Keen’s side to win the U18 Premier League South division trophy and the FA Youth Cup as the young Hammers completed a historic double.

READ ALSO

Sky Sports makes embarrassing Man United gaffe about Jarrod Bowen deal.

Steidten plots double Bundesliga deal with £35m raid on old club for star.

Moyes fires back at his Kudus critics with bold statement.