July 3rd was graduation day for some of West Ham United’s best and brightest.
No fewer than 14 youngsters signed scholarship contracts with the club’s Academy of Football. Among them was a name you might recognise if you had kept a close eye on the development of an exciting Under-18 crop last term.
In what was an impressive year for West Ham United’s next generation – the Hammers became the first team to win the Premier League Cup at three different age groups while also becoming the first academy side to reach the National League Cup final – Isaac Thomas was one of their big success stories.
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You may remember when Thomas scored four goals in an 8-2 thrashing of Ipswich Town back in November.
A feat made all the more impressive when you consider Thomas is a centre-back who finished like a centre-forward for a day in East Anglia.
Isaac Thomas signs a scholarship contract at West Ham United
Well, we say he is a centre-back. His actual preferred position is midfield. Talk about versatility…
“I think it speaks to the depth of quality that we’ve got within the academy,” U18 boss Lauris Coggin told the West Ham website at the time. “Isaac is not naturally a centre-half.
“So for him to step into that position and then to score [four times] from set-pieces, which, as you’ve seen this year, are prominent throughout the game, was brilliant.”
Thomas made his U18 debut aged 15 towards the end of the 2024/25 campaign. It would not be a surprise if the Wales Under-19 international found himself featuring in the Premier League 2 squad next term.
Thomas, who ended the season with five goals in 12 league appearances, has a knack for climbing up the age ranks pretty quickly.
Thomas and his family were present at Rush Green this week as he became one of 14 next-gen prospects to put pen to paper.
The others to sign scholarship terms are as follows; Felix Lewis-Ayesta, Jack Tomlin, Glenn Macaj, Reon Smith, Arnaldo Ugate, Charles Gadsdon, Lenny Noble, Mitchell Brown, Christian Lila, Zak Magowan, Frankie Day, Christlife Mandungu and Bailey Pammenter.
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“Welcome to you all and congratulations on becoming scholars at West Ham United,” said Academy Manager Kenny Brown told them. “You are now starting a programme that I know you are going to love.
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“These are the best years of your life, so attack every day of it. There are a few of us in the room who have been in your shoes and when we look back on it now, they were the best days of our careers.
“Enjoy it, but you will only enjoy it as much as the effort you put into it. You’ve got all the support of everyone at this Club, and also from your families, so let’s see how far we can take you.”
Thomas and co should not be lacking in inspirational figures to look up to.
West Ham have one of the most prosperous academies in English football. Declan Rice, Mark Noble, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and many more became household names after starting off with a scholarship.
A few more four-goal blitzes from Isaac Thomas will not harm his chances of doing the same.
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