West Ham United is pleased to announce that Sean Tarima has penned professional terms with the Club.
The centre-back signed his first professional contract at the Club’s iconic Chadwell Heath training facility, the home of the Academy of Football.
Newham-born Tarima has made 22 appearances in all competitions this campaign for the U18s, helping Kevin Keen’s side to claim the U18 Premier League South division trophy and the FA Youth Cup.
“I’m really pleased and excited to sign my first professional contract," Tarima told whufc.com. "I have been here since the age of ten and I have worked really hard for this moment.
"It is a great achievement for myself and for my family. I couldn’t have done it without all the coaches who have helped me along my journey.
“It has been a crazy season. I remember seeing videos of some of the Premier League’s top players winning and playing in the FA Youth Cup, so to play in it myself and to win it is crazy. It was a great way to sign off with the U18s and now I’m ready for next season with the U21s.
"Hopefully I can carry this success on into next season.”
In signing his professional contract with the Irons, the 18-year-old becomes the fourth Academy of Football youngster to agree terms with the Club in the last few days, with Mason Terry, Ryan Battrum and Billy Bates also penning deals.
Callum Marshall, Ollie Scarles, Gideon Kodua and Lewis Orford have all also signed professional contracts in the 2022/23 season with West Ham United.
Academy Manager Kenny Brown said: ““We are delighted to agree professional terms with Sean.
“Sean is a local lad who epitomises the tradition of the Academy of Football in nurturing and developing players from our area, and it has been a joy to watch him progress through our age groups.
“After a significant spell out injured, Sean has shown immense character and determination to not only recover but return and become even better. He has shown his talent in the second half of the season with our U18s and has played a key role in their success.”
Born in Newham, Tarima grew up around Romford and joined the Hammers at ten-years-old after a spell with Sunday team Euro Dagenham.
Having developed through the ranks in the Academy of Football, Tarima would make 17 appearances for the U18s in the 2021/22 campaign before a long-term injury would hamper his start to the 2022/23 season.
Despite the set-back, the versatile defender would recover to become an integral part of the young Hammers, making 15 outings in U18s Premier League South while playing a role in every round of the FA Youth Cup.
Tarima would start both the Youth Cup semi-final at London Stadium and the final at the Emirates Stadium, helping the Irons to a 5-1 win over Arsenal to lift a fourth trophy in the Club’s history.
The 18-year-old would also make his U21s debut, earning his introduction to the development team as a substitute in the Premier League International Cup win over Feyenoord in November.
Everyone at West Ham United congratulates Sean on his professional deal and wish him all the best in his career with the Hammers.
