West Ham United is delighted to announce that Ollie Scarles has signed professional terms with the Club.
The versatile midfielder celebrated his 17th birthday on Monday 12 December by putting pen-to-paper on his first professional contract at the Club’s iconic Chadwell Heath training ground.
Scarles has made nine appearances in all competitions for the U18s this campaign, with his fine efforts also earning the Academy youngster eleven outings in Mark Robson’s development team so far this season.
His impressive from in the first half of the 2022/23 season saw Scarles make his first-team debut in the UEFA Europa Conference League Group B match away to FCSB in, with the teenager playing a starring role in the 3-0 win in Bucharest in early November.
“This is a great feeling!” Scarles told whufc.com. “It’s a dream come true, signing my first professional contract, and that I’ve done it with this Club makes it even more special.
“I’ve been here for six years now, and everyone associated with the Club has helped me to develop both on and off the pitch. I’m so thankful to everyone in the Academy and at the Club for helping me to achieve my dream.
“It’s surreal to think how far I’ve come. Since signing my scholarship in the summer, it’s all happened so quickly and, honestly, it does not feel real. Signing my professional deal is such a special thing and to do it on my birthday too, it’s an incredible present.”
Scarles signed his professional deal alongside interim Academy manager Kenny Brown and becomes the second Academy talent to sign professional terms in recent weeks, after forward Callum Marshall penned a deal last month.
Brown said: “We are delighted that Ollie has agreed professional terms with the Club. His application and performances for our senior Academy teams have been consistently impressive and the wider West Ham United family got a taste of his talents on his first team debut in the UEFA Europa Conference League in November.
“Seeing young men like Ollie get that opportunity is what everyone in the Academy works tirelessly for, and we are all eagerly excited to see him continue his development and journey with us throughout the remainder of the season and beyond.”
Scarles’ journey with the Academy of Football began at eleven years old, with the versatile left-footer working his way through the age groups at a rapid rate.
The youngster’s precise passing and impressive crossing ability led to him making 25 appearances for Kevin Keen’s U18s in the 2021/22 season, with the teenager signing his Scholarship deal with the Club in June 2022.
Having begun the season with the U18s, Scarles’ efforts saw him earn his U21s debut in September, playing a pivotal role in a 1-1 draw away to Manchester United.
His fine run of form led to Scarles’ involvement in the first-team’s final UEFA Europa Conference League Group B match, away to FCSB, with Scarles featuring in the starting XI alongside fellow Academy teammate Divin Mubama for their respective debuts.
On another special evening for the Academy of Football, Scarles and Mubama shone in a starting XI in Bucharest that also featured Ben Johnson and Conor Coventry, before being joined on the pitch by fellow Academy players Kamarai Swyer, Kaelan Casey, Harrison Ashby, Freddie Potts and Keenan Appiah-Forson.
Everyone at West Ham United would like to congratulate Ollie on his first professional deal and wish him every success in Claret and Blue.
