West Ham United lost one of the most in-form talents in their academy on transfer deadline day with FC Utrecht successfully fighting off competition from European giants Juventus and Borussia Dortmund for Emeka Adiele.
The Hammers bid a reluctant farewell to Elisha Sowunmi on Friday.
Sowunmi followed Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham Hotspur after finishing the 2024/25 campaign as the leading goalscorer for West Ham United’s Under-18 side. Just three days later, another teenage talent completed a shock switch of his own.
We all love the club to bits, but let’s be real – what would you have to tell a new signing to convince them to join?! 😔
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Credit: Getty Images/Michael Regan
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Rampaging left-back Emeka Adiele was a target for Dortmund and Juventus. FC Utrecht of the Dutch Eredivisie would have been viewed as clear outsiders initially, then. But the dark horses have now crossed the line before two pedigree stallions.
Emeka Adiele explains how Utrecht convinced him to leave West Ham United
Adiele joins Utrecht on a four-year deal. The 18-year-old leaves East London having provided five goals and ten assists in 20 matches for Greg Lincoln’s Under-21 side this season.
Speaking to the official Utrecht website, Adiele explained that the determination Utrecht showed to lure him to the Stadion Galgenwaard was a major factor in his decision to snub two Champions League winners.
West Ham United's Emeka Adiele during Portugal v England - U18 Men's International
Photo by Octavio Passos – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
“It feels great to be here, I can’t wait to get started,” Adiele explains. “Hopefully, I can bring everything I learned at West Ham United back to Utrecht and help the team here continue to grow.”
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“FC Utrecht was the best option for me. That is mainly because of the discussions and because they really wanted me here.
“I’m a quick, attacking full-back. I love covering the left flank. I’m agile in tight spaces and have a good left foot.”
Josh Ajala’s future uncertain after Adiele and Elisha Sowunmi exits
Earlier in the campaign, after racking up an impressive array of assists, Hammers News wondered if West Ham had found El Hadji Malick Diouf’s protege in the England youth international. To quote the aforementioned Lincoln, Adiele possesses ‘real ability’ and ‘high potential’.
A worrying development as another Hammers starlet leaves! 😟
Why do YOU think Adiele and Sowunmi both departed? What needs to CHANGE?
Emeka Adiele of West Ham United looks on during the warm up prior to the Bristol Street Motors Trophy match between Reading and West Ham United U21 at Select Car Leasing Stadium on August 20, 2024 in Reading, England.
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That he was wanted by Juventus and Dortmund – who snapped up both Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham when they were teenagers – tells its own story.
First Sowunmi, now Adiele; it will undoubtedly be a cause for concern that West Ham have lost two rising stars in the space of a week. According to Fabrizio Romano, Josh Ajala has held talks with French and German clubs too.
Now a regular with the Under-21s, Ajala scored both goals as the Hammers beat Reading in the Premier League Cup final last season.
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