- West Ham United youngster Reece Burke pens new four-year deal
- 19-year-old defender was Bradford City's Player of the Year in loan deal last term
- Centre back has already made a European appearance for West Ham this season
West Ham United are delighted to announce that Reece Burke has signed a new four-year contract.
The outstanding young defender and lifelong Hammer has been rewarded for an outstanding 18 months by putting pen to paper on a deal that will keep him at London Stadium until summer 2020.
The Newham-born Academy graduate broke into the first-team squad in spring 2014, was named Young Hammer of the Year in 2014/15 and secured Bradford City’s Player of the Year award last season.
Still just 19, Burke is already approaching 50 senior appearances and impressed hugely as a left-back during the Hammers’ UEFA Europa League play-off round first leg with Astra Giurgiu.
The teenager is delighted to have his secured his Claret and Blue future at a time when the Club has just moved into the iconic London Stadium.
“Obviously as a West Ham fan as well as a player, it’s fantastic to be involved with the Club during this period,” said Burke. “It’s still sinking in to be honest, the move and the changes here. Over time, I really believe everything will settle in, and it will feel like home very, very soon.
“When the league season is really underway I think it will definitely feel more like home.”
Burke has already enjoyed the London Stadium experience, coming on at right-back in the Betway Cup against Italian champions Juventus, before being handed a start in Romania last week.
Having signed his new long-term contract, the tall defender is hopeful of being handed another chance to impress when Astra visit his home borough on Thursday evening.
“It’s an unreal Stadium to play in,” he continued. “It’s been done really well, the entire arena, and the pitch and surface is quality too. I played there against Juventus at right-back and really enjoyed the experience. If I’m playing again, which hopefully I will be, I’ll do my best to help the team progress to the group stages.
“I’m hoping to be involved, and if Slaven asks me to do a job anywhere on the pitch I’ll definitely be up for it. The Club has a few centre-halves this season so there’s a lot of competition there. If he asks me, I’m just going to say ‘Yes’.”
Looking further into the future, Burke expects to be given the opportunity to go out on loan again this season – potentially to a Championship club after impressing for Bradford in League One last term.
“This season for me, another loan move may happen for me,” he revealed. “I think I’m going to try and do Championship – the next step – and see how the season goes hopefully playing Championship football and I’ll hopefully get another load of games under my belt.
“I want to build on that experience and come back next year even better, just similarly building like I did last season. Hopefully I could have a similarly positive season this year in the Championship.”
*You can read a feature-length interview with Reece Burke in Thursday’s Official Programme for the visit of Astra Giurgiu. Order your copy online now at www.programmemaster.com/product/west-ham-v-astra-giurgiu