by Staff Writer
Thursday, 17th July 2025
Katie O’Hanlon has signed her first professional contract with West Ham United.
Marking a major milestone, having just turned 21 and celebrating earning a first-class honours degree in Sports Coaching and Performance the goalkeeper has agreed a two-year deal with the club, following her progression through West Ham’s Professional Game Academy which she joined in 2022.
o'Hanlon puts pen to paper on her new contract [pic:whufc.com]
O’Hanlon gained first-team experience during loan spells at Hashtag United and Billericay Town before returning to West Ham, where she has regularly trained with the senior squad under goalkeeper coach Chris Pipe, alongside senior 'keepers Kinga Szemik and Megan Walsh.
Now part of Rehanne Skinner’s squad for the 2025/26 season, O’Hanlon is ready to begin her journey as a professional footballer.
"It's amazing. To be honest, I don't think it's fully sunk in for me yet, but I'm just feeling really grateful and really proud to reach this milestone in my career," O’Hanlon told West Ham's website.
"It seems like such a long time ago now, when all of this started, but I started playing football in school with the boys. I was rubbish at everything else, so they chucked me in goal. You get quite good after a while!
"At the beginning, I found the transition into first-team football really difficult, but now I'm excited to get going for my first time as a professional. I've learned so much on the pitch and off the pitch as well.
"I'm so lucky to have trained with some of the best goalies in the world over my time here," she continued. "It's the small one per cents and the small details that you learn from them of what it takes to not only be a professional in the WSL, but on the international stage as well.
"I'm kind of the baby of the group, so they're always giving me advice, but we have a good relationship. I'm really excited [to start the new season]. It'll be good to see everyone and have everybody back in the building after some time off. I'm excited to create something really exciting together ahead of a new season."
* Something to say about this story? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.