One of the most talented finishers in the West Ham United Academy, Josh Ajala enters his first year as a professional having already been the U21s top goalscorer.
Joining from Chelsea where he spent his schoolboy years, Ajala was by far and away the most prolific goalscorer for Kevin Keen’s side scoring 19 goals as the U18s finished runners up in Premier League South in his first season.
In the 2024/25 campaign, making the step up to U21s while still a scholar, Ajala finished in double figures for both age groups and claimed the Premier League Cup golden boot, scoring the all-important brace in the final as the U18s became champions for the first time.
Here, as he works his way back to full fitness following injury, he takes us through six photographs that tell the story of his budding footballing career so far.
This is his West Ham story…
Playing for Chigwell Boys - Seven years old
“This is me playing for my local team, Chigwell Boys. Only five minutes down the road from where I lived. I played for them for a year and a half before getting scouted. This picture is from a tournament we won where I also got the player of the tournament award. It was a tournament like this one that got me the opportunity to come and trial for a Premier League club so it’s a hugely important moment for me.”
Signing for Chelsea - Eight years old
“This picture was the day I signed for Chelsea. I’d been on trial for about six to eight weeks after being scouted at one of the local tournaments with Chigwell Boys. It’s probably one of my proudest moments. I was so happy. Obviously as a child it’s a big thing for you signing your first deal.”
My first start against a men’s team - 17 years old
“This is my first ever start in the EFL Trophy. It’s one of my first times playing against a men’s team and it was a really good experience. Just trying to see what the levels are between Academy and men’s football. The defenders were bigger, stronger, and faster. It was a different type of test, but I enjoyed the challenge of having to adjust my game.”
My first goals in Premier League 2 - 17 years old
“This was just three days after the Reading game, we played Southampton, it was only my second-ever start in Premier League 2. I ended up scoring two goals within five minutes at the start of the second half. The second one was probably one of the best goals I scored last season. I picked up the ball, everything clicked, and I was able to drop a few defenders. It felt brilliant. We also went top of the table after that game, so it was just a great day.”
Making my Young Lions debut - 17 years old
“This is my international debut, playing for England U19s. We travelled to Croatia,and I played against Germany, Italy and Croatia. It was such a proud moment. It’s something I’d been dreaming of. I want to play at the highest possible level and playing internationally is obviously part of that. I was so grateful to represent my country.”
Scoring a brace in the U18 Premier League Cup final - 18 years old
“This one is after we retook the lead late on in the final at Reading. I’m so happy in this picture. I don’t know what to do with myself in the moment. I have no idea how I jumped that high! Scoring the winner in the final for your team, words can’t describe how good it felt. It was the perfect ball in from Elisha [Sowunmi] and I scored with a nice header. Everyone just went crazy after I scored. Going out to Grimsby in the FA Youth Cup earlier in the season was so disappointing, one of the most disappointing things that's happened in my career. We wanted to bounce back and win the Premier League Cup, that's what we all said to each other, so it's just brilliant that we did.”
