* 17/02/2026
* 12:06
* Modified: 17/02/2026
**Colchester United have [confirmed that academy coach Eddie Keen](https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/sport/25861493.eddie-keen-joined-west-ham-leaving-colchester/) has departed the club to take up a role with West Ham United.**
Keen, who had been with the Essex side since November 2023, most recently served as the club’s under-18 Lead Phase Coach. He will now assist within the Hammers’ Player Development Pathway phase, marking a significant step up into a Premier League academy structure.
During his time at [Colchester United](https://thedeck.news/major-twist-revealed-in-colchester-united-transfer-deal/), Keen progressed through several academy roles. He initially worked as Lead Phase Coach for the under-15 and under-16 age groups before moving into the under-18 set-up. In that capacity, he guided the young U’s to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup this season, eventually bowing out against Oxford United.
His departure represents another change within the Colchester coaching structure, with the club having placed considerable emphasis on youth development in recent seasons.
Family reunion at West Ham
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The move to West Ham will also see Keen link up with his father, Kevin Keen, a former Colchester manager who took charge of the U’s during the 2015-16 campaign. Kevin Keen is currently involved in the academy set-up at the London Stadium, overseeing academy loans alongside former Hammers forward Carlton Cole.
Eddie Keen brings a varied coaching background to his new role. Prior to joining Colchester, he worked within the Brentford academy system, serving as under-18 Head Coach between June 2022 and June 2023, while also holding a position with the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust.
He also gained senior experience at Maidenhead United, where he worked as a first-team coach between 2019 and 2023, alongside former West Ham favourite Alan Devonshire. That spell provided him with exposure to National League football and the demands of the senior game.
Earlier in his career, Keen coached in the United States after studying at Hastings College in Nebraska, working within the American college system. He has also held a role with Atletico de Kolkata in India, adding further international experience to his CV.
For Colchester, the loss of an academy lead is significant given the importance of youth progression to the club’s long-term model. For West Ham, meanwhile, the appointment strengthens their pathway structure with a coach who has experience across multiple phases of development.
The switch underlines the continued movement of coaching talent between the EFL and Premier League academies, with Keen’s career trajectory reflecting the increasing emphasis placed on structured player development at every level of the professional game.
From a Colchester perspective, replacing that expertise will now be a priority, but the opportunity presented to Keen is one that reflects positively on the work being done within the U’s academy structure.