West Ham United U21s duo Lewis Orford and Finlay Herrick have both been shortlisted for the 2024/25 Premier League 2 Player of the Season award.
It marks the second consecutive campaign in which two young Hammers have earned nominations for the award, following George Earthy and Callum Marshall’s inclusion in the 2023/24 shortlist after West Ham finished second in the league.
Orford, vice-captain of the U21s, has continued his steady progress this season. Despite only turning 19 in February, the young midfielder has already surpassed 60 appearances at development level since his debut in March 2023. In 2024/25, he contributed four goals and eight assists in Premier League 2, while also signing a five-year contract, making his senior Premier League debut, and captaining the England U19s, whom he represents alongside Herrick.
Herrick on the other hand, in his first full season at U21 level, is the only goalkeeper to feature on the shortlist. The 19-year-old shot stopper and his backline kept the second-best defensive record in the 26-team division. Herrick kept seven clean sheets in 18 regular-season matches, the highest total in the league, and also earned four England U19s caps, recording two shutouts in qualification games for this summer's U19 European Championship.
The other nominees are Manchester City pair Emilio Lawrence and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Chelsea's Donnell McNeilly, Crystal Palace's Hindolo Mustapha, Arsenal's Khayon Edwards and Fulham's Callum Osmand.
The shortlist has been selected by the Premier League Football Development Panel, who will also decide the winner, who will be announced during the Premier League Academy Awards evening on Tuesday 13 May 2025.
West Ham United would like to congratulate Lewis and Finlay on their fine seasons and being shortlisted for this prestigious award.
