Gideon Kodua could not contain his delight at agreeing professional terms with West Ham United.
The 18-year-old has become the third Academy graduate in recent weeks to sign his first professional deal with the Club, continuing a superb 2022/23 season for the young forward.
Kodua has been in fine form this campaign for the U18s, and the striker feels the professional deal is proof that his hard work has paid off.
“I’m excited and proud to sign this professional deal with West Ham United, and I’m really eager to see what the future holds for me now,” he told whufc.com.
“My time with West Ham United has gone amazing so far and I think, in a way, I’ve shocked myself. But also, in a way, I’ve proven to myself that if I work hard then anything is possible. I’ve kept my head down and worked hard with the coaches here, and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved so far.
Kodua was joined by his three brothers and cousin for his contract signing and the teenager was full of gratitude for his family, who have taken him to and from training as he carved his path into professional football.
“My family have helped me throughout my whole journey. Not just at West Ham – before West Ham as well. They’ve done so much for me.
“They did those late night lifts and drives, when you get back in the early hours and then they’ve got to get up early too. I know they’ve done it because they love me and want to see me succeed, so I’m so grateful to them. I can’t even really say ‘thank you’ because I know it’s not even close to enough to repaying them.”
Kodua’s outstanding season so far has seen the attacker net seven goals in eleven U18s matches, and the team’s newest professional says the team spirit in the camp is a big factor in the side’s push to win the Premier League U18s South title.
“This season has been amazing. Not just on the pitch, but off the pitch as well. The boys in the U18s have all created a real bond and we have a real team spirit on the pitch. For me, personally, it’s going so well and I’m really enjoying the season so far.
“Our U18s team is like a family, and we’re all brothers. We come in every day and do silly things to make each other laugh, and that is how we’ve bonded with each other. We’re very playful but we all work so hard for each other on the pitch too.”
The attacker’s efforts saw Kodua make his U21s debut in the Premier League International Cup defeat to PSV in October, followed by a Premier League 2 debut a week later.
With four appearances in the development side to his name so far, Kodua is targeting even more.
He continued: “I found the step up to the U21s really tough at first. I remember training them when I was a first year and the tempo was much faster, and I definitely wasn’t expecting it.
“I had to train myself to think faster and play at a quicker pace. But I think, this season, I’ve got the hang of it a bit. I like to think I can get to that tempo quickly now.”
Having seen fellow young pros Ollie Scarles and Divin Mubama earn their respective first team debuts this campaign, Kodua has set himself the ambition of following his teammates in earning an opportunity in David Moyes’ senior side.
He added: “I really want to win the U18s league with this team. We’ve worked too hard to not win it. We came so close last season and, if we do win it, it would be absolutely amazing.
“We all want to win trophies, like the FA Youth Cup. And, of course, everyone is targeting that senior team debut. We’ve seen it’s possible this season and that’s the aim. I’m proud of Ollie and Divin for doing it but it’s also motivating me to try and do it myself.”
