West Ham United is pleased to announce that Dan Chesters has signed a new contract with the Club until the summer of 2024.
The promising midfielder, who has become a consistent figure in the West Ham United U23s this season and made his first team debut in the Europa League, has put pen-to-paper on a two-and-a-half year contract with the Club.
Having joined West Ham United at nine-years-old, Chesters has progressed through the Academy Of Football and has made 46 appearances in all competitions for the U23s side, initially making his debut in the 2017/18 campaign.
The 19-year-old has featured in 18 U23s matches this season, scoring once and providing five assists.
I can’t wait to continue my journey. I’ve been here since the age of nine and I am really happy to stay with my childhood club.
Dan Chesters
“I’m really happy to sign this new contract at West Ham,” Chesters told whufc.com. “I can’t wait to continue my journey. I’ve been here since the age of nine and I am really happy to stay with my childhood club.
“My family is buzzing. When I told them, they were really happy. My brother has messaged me. My mum and dad, and nan and grandad, they are all so happy for me. It means a lot.”
Starting his football journey as part of a Sunday league set-up in his hometown of Stevenage, Chesters joined West Ham United’s Academy Of Football in 2011 and has gone on to progress through the ranks at Chadwell Heath.
Having worked his way into the U18s, Chesters would make his U23s debut as a 15-year-old, coming on as a late substitute in an away victory against Liverpool in February 2018.
The versatile midfield creator would become a regular in the U18s side in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons, featuring a total of 20 times across the two campaigns, while also continuing to make showings in the Premier League 2 team as well.
The 19-year-old has been a consistent figure in the U23s set up since the start of the 2020/21 season, featuring under former coach Dimitri Halajko and current U23s Lead Coach Mark Robson.
Robson is delighted Chesters has committed his future to West Ham and believes the midfielder has all the attributes to continue his progression into first-team football.
He said: “Dan is a young lad who has really impressed us since I’ve been here. He’s a quick player, he’s got good pace and he loves to run in behind, which is a real plus.
“He’s good on the ball technically. He can link the play and has a lot of positives in his arsenal going forward. We’re pleased with his extension and now we’ve got more time to work with him and help him improve.
“We’ve talked a lot with Dan about where we can improve him a bit more and set him some targets. The challenge for Dan now is to hit those targets between now and the end of the season, and possibly even force his way into the first-team scene in the coming year or so.”
The 2021/22 season has been Chesters’ most significant to date so far, with the Academy graduate making his first appearance for the senior side, coming on as a substitute in West Ham United’s 3-0 home win against KRC Genk in the Europa League group stages in October.
“Being at this Club means a lot to me,” Chesters continued. “I didn’t think I would come as far as I have today. I was playing football for the love of it and now I’m taking it a lot more seriously. It’s so good to be here.
“This year has been crazy for me, to be fair. I’ve achieved a lot of things. Coming on for that first team game, it was such a crazy experience. I remember Kevin Nolan was showing me the set-pieces. I was trying to take it in, but I was also looking out and seeing the lights, all the fans.
“I can’t describe the noise. I was buzzing to get the warm welcome I got from the fans. It meant so much. I never believed I’d get that moment.”
With his future at West Ham United secured, Chesters is hoping he can continue to impress and earn even more first team opportunities throughout the remainder of the 2021/22 campaign, and in seasons to come.
He added: “In the next couple of years I want to be playing in the first team, or maybe go out on loan and show what I can do. I want to be in and around the first team a lot more.
“I just need to keep on top of it and stay fit, not slack, and keep working.”
Everybody at West Ham United would like to congratulate Dan on his new contract with the Club and wish him every success in Claret and Blue.