Young Hungarian goalkeeper Krisztian Hegyi joined the Academy of Football in May 2019 after the Hammers beat off competition from a number of high-profile teams for his signature.
Regarded as one of the brightest goalkeeping prospects in Europe, the teenager had made an impression on first-team goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero before international clearance allowed him to make his West Ham U18s debut against Brighton & Hove Albion in April of 2019.
Hegyi also represented Hungary in the UEFA U17 European Championships in the same year, playing a crucial role in helping his team to a fifth-place finish which saw them achieve qualification for the FIFA U17 World Cup in October 2019, where they failed to advance from the group stages.
2019/20 saw Hegyi become a crucial performer as Kevin Keen's youth team finished a curtailed season in second place in the U18 Premier League South table, the Hungarian making nine league appearances - and his first four for the U23s, including a development squad debut in the 3-1 EFL Trophy defeat at Exeter City in November 2019.
In 2020/21, Hegyi earned himself a nomination for Under-18 Save of the Season at the Premier League's Academy Awards for an outstanding stop against eventual U18 Premier League South champions Crystal Palace in April, denying Jesurun Rak-Sakyi’s top corner-bound effort at full stretch to keep his team in the game.
He also recorded 19 appearances in total across U18 Premier League South and the FA Youth Cup, keeping a clean sheet in the U18s' 5-0 win over Norwich City U18s in the fourth round at Carrow Road in March 2021.
With Joseph Anang out on loan, Hegyi established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper for the U23s in the 2021/22 season, playing 30 times in all competitions and signing a new, three-year deal with the Irons in January 2022.
The Hungarian continued in his role as the first-choice for the development team in the 2022/23 season. Hegyi was named captain of the side at the start of the campaign, making 24 Premier League 2 appearances and 27 in all competitions.
The young shot-stopper would also be involved in a host of first team squads across the campaign, being named on the bench for three Premier League outings and seven UEFA Euro Conference League ties. His fine form also earned Hegyi a first senior Hungary call-up, which saw him named on the bench for a 3-0 win over Bulgaria in March 2023.