George Earthy is a technically gifted creative midfielder who made his senior debut and scored his first goal for West Ham United at the age of 19 in spring 2024.
Havering-born Earthy joined the Academy of Football as an Under-6 and worked his way through the age-groups alongside his teammate and good friend Kaelan Casey. During this time, he was capped by England at both U15 and U16 levels in the autumn 2019.
The 2020/21 season saw Earthy make his breakthrough in the U18s as a schoolboy, as he scored six goals in 15 appearances in U18 Premier League South. He also made his FA Youth Cup debut at 16 years and four months as a late substitute in a third-round win at Luton Town in January 2021.
As a 17-year-old, Earthy enjoyed an outstanding 2021/22 season with the U18s, scoring eleven goals and seven assists in U18 Premier League South, and was rewarded with a first professional contract in summer 2022. He also netted on his first FA Youth Cup start in a 3-2 third-round home defeat by Newcastle United in December 2021.
The 2022/23 campaign saw Earthy make his mark for the U21s, for whom he made 25 appearances in all competitions, including three in the EFL Trophy and 20 in Premier League 2. The midfielder also registered nine assists and scored four goals in ten U18 Premier League South appearances as the team won the divisional title. He then started the final stage play-off defeat by Manchester City.
Earthy was an integral member of the team which won the FA Youth Cup in April 2023, scoring the fourth-round winner at Burnley, in a fifth-round victory at Stoke City and in the 5-1 victory over Arsenal in the final at Emirates Stadium.
Earthy's progress continued apace in 2023/24. Records of nine goals and nine assists in 19 Premier League 2 appearances and goals in EFL Trophy wins at Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham Town and Colchester United would be impressive enough in their own right, but the Academy graduate also made his mark at senior level.
Manager David Moyes gave Earthy his debut as an 86th-minute substitute in the 5-0 UEFA Europa League round of 16 second-leg win over SC Freiburg at London Stadium on 14 March 2024. He then made his Premier League bow as an 82nd-minute substitute at home to Fulham on 14 April 2024, but had the appearance curtailed when he suffered a concussion.
Earthy returned from that concussion on 11 May 2024 when he scored with his first touch, 67 seconds after being introduced as a substitute in a 3-1 home Premier League win over Luton Town. He was presented with the Mark Noble Young Hammer of the Year award after the match.
June 2024 saw Earthy make his England U20 debut in a 2-1 Elite League win over Sweden in Croatia, and he also featured as a substitute in a 2-2 draw with the Republic of Ireland four days later.