After stepping up to the West Ham United U21s squad a year early, Josh Ajala wasted little time making his mark.
Joining from Chelsea to sign scholarship terms in east London in 2023, he quickly announced himself with 19 goals for the U18s in his first season. That tally, the highest of the U18s, earned him an early promotion to the development squad, where he naturally continued to find the back of the net.
A long awaited Young Lions debut for the U19s age group followed a flying start to life in Premier League 2, with Ajala netting three goals in his first three games as the young Hammers flew out the gates with five straight wins in the 2024/25 campaign.
His impressive season was signed off with silverware, finishing as top scorer in the U18 Premier League Cup with seven goals, including the all-important brace which proved the difference in the final at Reading.
“If I had to rate last season out of ten, I’d probably give it an eight,” he reflected. “Playing internationally was a really big moment for me. It's something I've been dreaming of for a long time. I made my youth international debut for England, won a trophy and was top goalscorer for both teams [U18s and U21s combined], but there's still more that can happen.”
With 40 goals to his name already in his first two seasons as a Hammer, it’s safe to say Ajala’s goalscoring appetite going into year three is far from satisfied.
“For any Academy player, training more with the first team is an important step. Hopefully, I can make my first team debut and try and score for the first team.
“I just want to be involved with the first team, I want to play with them. It’s all about playing at the highest level you can possibly play.
“I’ve had opportunities to train with the first team which has been really exciting. In the first team, they've got a lot of top players and it’s so important we get used to the tempo of how they play. Obviously, the physicality is a big factor because they're all strong. I just want to keep training with them so I can get used to how they play.”
Alongside their regular development fixtures against fellow academy sides in Premier League 2 and the Premier League International Cup, the U21s’ calendar features a series of senior tournaments, a major part of bridging the gap to first-team football. This season, their campaign begins with a National League Cup tie against Woking, with the Vertu Trophy also returning. For Ajala, these physical challenges are a huge piece of the puzzle when it comes to development.
“I’d say being involved in those games against men’s teams have been a huge aspect of my development. Knowing how to deal with the teams’ physicality, getting better at holding the ball up as a No9. They’re bigger, stronger, and as young players we need to get used to the physicality of the men's game to reach the next step.”
