West Ham United is delighted to announce that Academy midfielder Riley Hargan has signed his first professional contract with the Club.
Hargan, who has been in the Club’s Academy since the age of six, was joined by his parents and two younger brothers to put pen to paper at Rush Green Training Ground.
A lifelong Hammers fan from Hornchurch, in Essex, Hargan joined the Academy of Football after being scouted from local grassroots side Byron Red Star. Twelve years on, the technically gifted midfielder has progressed through every age group and earned his opportunity to take the next step in Claret and Blue.
“I was buzzing when I found out the news,” Hargan smiled. “To sign my first professional contract for the Club I’ve supported my whole life is surreal. It’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid.
“I had a meeting with the staff to find out if I’d been offered a deal. I was obviously nervous going into it, you hope for the best, but you never know. When they told me, my face just lit up. I was over the moon.”
Having only made a handful of appearances during his first year as a scholar, Hargan kicked on this season to establish himself as one of the U18s’ most dependable players. He went on to become the team’s second-highest appearance maker, cementing his place in the starting line-up and playing a key role in their Premier League Cup-winning campaign.
Hargan said: “Winning the Premier League Cup was a special moment. It came at the end of our scholarship, so it meant even more. We’d been knocked out of a few other competitions, so this one was our last shot. To win it alongside your best mates who you see every day at Chadwell Heath, that’s something I’ll never forget.”
Sporting Director Mark Noble was also present for the contract signing, joining Hargan and his family for the proud moment at Rush Green.
“It’s pretty special to have a relationship with Nobes,” said Hargan. “He's been there for me for a long time and I have that connection where I see him as a mentor and someone I can always talk to. I feel like he's really helped me along my pathway, so I'm really grateful for him.”
West Ham United Academy Manager Kenny Brown commended Hargan’s resilience and perseverance in earning his place at the Club.
“Riley has really kicked on in the last three or four months,” Brown said. “He’s become one of the first names on the team sheet for the U18s and finished the season in a rich vein of form.
“He’s earned this contract the right way, showing consistency, drive and character. When we sat down with the U18s and U21s staff and reviewed his progress, the decision was unanimous. He’s forced our hand in the best way, and now we’re all looking forward to seeing him continue his journey as an U21s player.”
Everyone at West Ham United would like to congratulate Riley on signing his first professional contract and wish him every success in Claret and Blue.