West Ham United is delighted to announce that Academy defender Ezra Mayers has signed a new contract with the Club until the summer of 2028, with an option to extend for a further year.
Winner of the 2023/24 Dylan Tombides Award, presented to the Academy of Football’s outstanding scholar, Mayers has been a regular feature in the U21s squad ever since, playing more minutes for the development side than any of his peers since the start of last season.
Even while representing the U21s, Mayers stepped back into the U18s group during their Premier League Cup campaign in 2024/25, playing every minute of the knockout stages as our young Hammers became just the fifth team to lift the trophy. He was also named on the bench for West Ham United’s Premier League fixture against Arsenal at London Stadium in November 2024.
“It means a lot, because I can stay at the Club while trying to push towards men’s football, whether that’s out on loan or here with the first team,” he said.
“It [2023/24] was a great season, and having Lauris [Coggin] and Kev [Keen] nominate me for the Dylan Tombides Award was a real honour. I was just happy that the work I put in throughout the year was recognised.
“Being on the bench for the first team is something you always want to experience again, and hopefully next time, I can get on the pitch. That’s the dream for everyone here. To be that close to it was a real eye-opener for me.”
Growing up in Aldersbrook, just a few miles from both Upton Park and London Stadium, the 18-year-old’s new deal will see him represent his boyhood club until at least the summer of 2028.
“I think the future holds what the past has already shown,” he continued. “I just want to keep working hard day in, day out, and maintain the consistency I’ve shown over the last couple of years of full-time football. If I can do that, then hopefully by 2028, even more exciting things will come.”
With former Academy coaches Mark Robson, Steve Potts, Gerard Prenderville and Billy Lepine now part of Nuno Espírito Santo’s first-team staff, Mayers believes it is an encouraging time to be a young player at the Club.
“It’s as good a time as ever to put yourself forward,” he continued. “They can influence things in the first team, and we’ve all worked with them for a long time. It’s really positive for us because it shows there’s a pathway, especially with the younger players who’ve already made appearances this season.”
A Hammer since U9s, Mayers has stood out throughout his time at Chadwell Heath and Rush Green for his composure on the ball, physicality, range of passing and pace, which allows him to play both at left-back and in his more natural centre-half role.
Reflecting on his progress, West Ham United Academy Manager Kenny Brown said: “The one thing that’s always stood out about Ezra is his love for coming in every day, training and being a player at West Ham. He’s been consistent in his attitude from the very start.
“He’s developed steadily through every age group. He was never one to seek the limelight, but as he’s moved up, he’s become a real presence in the squad. He’s really kicked on in these last two years becoming a mainstay in the Under-21s and training over with the first team.
“With this new deal, which shows our commitment to him and his commitment to us, it's now important that we now make sure he gets the right challenges, so that he's ready for first-team football.
“It’s always special to see another player who’s been with us since Under-9s come all the way through. If we can get the right players in, like Ezra, I’ve got every confidence in our staff and our environment to help them reach the professional level. He’s a great example of that.”
