FORMER Tyrone SuperCupNI player Joel Kerr has signed a first professional contract with English Premiership side West Ham United.
Having put pen to paper at Rush Green Training Ground on the occasion of his 17th birthday, the Rock lad said it was a proud moment for him and his family.
“It’s obviously something I’ve wanted to do and have been working towards for a while now, so it’s great to see that dream become a reality and sign professional,” he said.
Since joining the Hammers in the summer of 2025 from the Glentoran Academy, Kerr has gone from strength to strength in Claret and Blue.
Kerr, who also starred for Tyrone as a gaelic footballer, has regularly led the line for our the club U18s, operating as both a central striker and a winger, standing out for his dribbling and finishing. The talented teen has made 20 appearances so far, scoring eight goals and providing five assists.
In January, he was rewarded with his first U21 appearance, making his debut in a 2-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund II in the Premier League International Cup.
That same month, he also scored in the U17 Premier League Cup semi-final win over Crystal Palace as the club’s first-year scholars reached the final for the first time. Kerr and his young Hammers team-mates will face Blackburn Rovers in the final on Wednesday 15 April.
“I feel like playing multiple sports has given me a bit of resilience,” he said. “Some of those things have just helped me along the way in my football journey.
“My last 12 months have been really good. Hopefully that’s something I can keep building on to make sure the next 12 months are even better.”
Having captained Northern Ireland U17s during their UEFA European U17 Championship qualifying campaign on home soil in Coleraine, Kerr will now join up with the U19s in Romania for three UEFA European U19 Championship Elite Round qualifiers.