The next Declan Rice? West Ham youngsters who could save club millions in the transfer market in 2025

West Ham sporting director Mark Noble has been on record praising the volume of high quality youngsters in the academy.

“They’re a special group and I say to them all the time: ‘It’s over to you’. If you don’t make it, at least put your head on the pillow knowing you did everything,” he said in April 2023.

Safe to say the future looks bright for the Hammers as there is plenty of excitement about the current crop of youngsters at the club and what they could achieve.

Here, Standard Sport takes a look at three West Ham youngsters to keep an eye on in 2025…

Kaelan Casey

If Casey ever manages to become a fully-fledged first-team player for West Ham, it would mark a success for the club’s academy just as much as for Casey himself. After all, he joined the Hammers’ youth system when he was just five.

The 20-year-old cites ex-Hammers captain Declan Rice as his idol, and is a versatile defender.

His Premier League debut came last season, when he was a late substitute for Angelo Ogbonna in a match against Luton in May. Casey, who also featured off the bench against Bournemouth in the league this month, has emerged as a key player for West Ham’s Under-21s.

Oliver Scarles

Scarles was born in Bromley in 2005 and spent his youth career at West Ham, briefly moving to Chelsea, before returning to the Hammers where he was a scholar and then an academy graduate.

Julen Lopetegui pleased the fanbase when he handed Scarles half an hour to impress off the bench in the recent 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, two years after the youngster made his only previous West Ham appearance in a Europa Conference League group-stage against FCSB of Romania.

The 19-year-old central midfielder remains part of the club’s Under-21s but could be in line for a greater role and eventual promotion to the first team in 2025.

George Earthy

20-year-old George Earthy is one of the more exciting players to have come through West Ham’s academy for some years.

He will only return to the club in the summer at the end of a loan spell in League One with Bristol City which is paying off for the midfielder at present.

With the East London club since Under-6 level, Earthy was part of the West Ham side that won the FA Youth Club at Under-18 level in 2022/23.

Earthy was rushed to hospital after losing consciousness seconds into his Premier League debut in April, only to be discharged and, on his return to the team the following month, score his first senior goal just 67 seconds after his introduction from the bench with his very first touch.

Many at West Ham believe big things are in store for Earthy. The coming year could be an indication as to whether they are right.