Josh Briggs became the latest young talent to join the Hammers from Northern Ireland when he signed from NIFL Premiership club Linfield in August 2022.

The defender put pen to paper on Scholarship terms with the Academy of Football, having impressed during his two years with the Blues.

The centre-back would feature in 18 matches for the U18s during a superb 2022/23 season which saw our young Hammers win the FA Youth Cup as well as the U18 Premier League South. Briggs made an instant impact in the Youth Cup final, scoring with his first touch after coming on as a substitute at Emirates Stadium.

He signed his first professional contract with West Ham United on his 18th birthday in March 2024. In the summer of 2024, Briggs played every minute of Northern Ireland's UEFA U19 Euro campaign on home soil which saw them face Ukraine, Norway and Italy in Group A.

In his first full season in the U21s squad, Briggs made 16 appearances and started every game during their flawless February run where they picked up four wins while conceding just one goal earning him a nomination for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award.

In his second year with the development squad, Briggs made 25 appearances, starting all five knockout games of our EFL Trophy and National League Cup campaigns. Our young Hammers were the only development side out of the 26 participating to reach the knockout stages of both senior competitions - finishing runners-up to Boreham Wood in the National League Cup.

Honours

Club Honours

U18 Premier League South (2022/23) FA Youth Cup (2022/23) National League Cup runner-up (2025/26)

International caps

Northern Ireland U17s Northern Ireland U18s Northern Ireland U19s Northern Ireland U21s