As questions hang over West Ham United’s brightest young talent, Premier League 2 sensation Kamarai Swyer was one of those hurtling towards an unavoidable crossroads in his young career.
Kamarai Swyer led the way for West Ham in terms of goals and assists at Under-21 level last season.
As recently as April, Swyer joined Lewis Orford and former Hammers starlet Divin Mubama amongst the Premier League 2 Player of the Month nominees. If his 20th birthday was still to arrive, the clamour for the skilful attacker to be handed a chance by Graham Potter in pre-season would have ascended to a deafening level of decibels.
As it is, with his 23rd birthday now only seven months away, Swyer instead approached the summer transfer window at a crucial juncture in his development.
He has outgrown youth team football. Yet, while Graham Potter has big plans for George Earthy, while Ollie Scarles looks set to fill Aaron Cresswell’s boots, 22-year-old Swyer was clearly still considered a long way from first-team action in a claret and blue jersey.
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Former West Ham captain Kevin Nolan signs Kamarai Swyer for Northampton Town
A move to Northampton Town in England’s third tier, then, hands a player with six senior league appearances under his belt the chance to make a name for himself in the men’s game for the first time.
Swyer, who made those six league appearances during a loan spell at Crawley Town in the 2023/24 campaign, joins Northampton on an initial two-year contract.
Cobblers boss Kevin Nolan, meanwhile, jumped at the chance to use his West Ham connections in order to secure an adaptable attacker boasting ‘huge potential’.
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✍️ Northampton Town are thrilled to announce the signing of winger Kamarai Swyer from West Ham United on an initial two year deal! 🤩
Welcome to Sixfields, Kamarai! 👋
Transfer news is brought to you by @TempeoRecruit. 🤝 #ShoeArmy 👞
— Northampton Town (@ntfc) May 30, 2025
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“Kamarai is a talented young player with huge potential who I have worked with before. So, I know all about him,” smiles Nolan, who captained West Ham before spending four years in the club’s coaching staff.
“He’s hungry, technically gifted, he takes people on and is a good athlete who is a good size and has an excellent attitude. We’re excited to welcome him to the squad and look forward to working with him and to see him develop with us over the next two years.
“We think we are getting him at a good time. He is on an upward curve. He had a standout season in Premier League 2 last season, with eight goals and ten assists. The most number of goal involvements for any West Ham player.
“He is ready to challenge himself and to go to the next level and that is what we will work with him to help him achieve.”
Swyer produced the most goal contributions for West Ham’s U21s
A host of other West Ham youngsters are expected to attract interest themselves from clubs across all corners of the EFL in the coming months.
Wycombe Wanderers reached the play-offs with Gideon Kodua at the heart of their midfield. And Wycombe are now hoping to land Callum Marshall, after the Northern Ireland international won Huddersfield’s Player of the Year award last term.
“His combination of strength and skill have made him an indispensable figure on the wing for the development side,” West Ham’s official website wrote when labelling Swyer their ‘one to watch’ at Under-21 level a few weeks ago.
“His hold up play when playing out under pressure and his ability to drive the ball at defenders have been central to West Ham’s attacking play all season.”
On Kevin Nolan’s watch, Swyer’s next challenge is to prove his dazzling displays at youth level can be translated against the Boltons and the Burtons of the world.