West Ham United can forget Divin Mubama as Josh Ajala impresses for U18s
World-class strikers have been very hard to come by for West Ham over the years, and David Moyes was keen to fix that aspect of his squad during the January transfer window.
Michail Antonio has been blighted by injury this season, while Danny Ings has been a huge disappointment since joining from Aston Villa in January 2023.
Hammers fans have had to suffer with substandard forwards for decades, and although wingers Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus are deadly in front of goal, it is clear that West Ham are desperate for an out-and-out striker.
The 2004/05 campaign was the last time a striker scored 20 goals or more for West Ham, with Marlon Harewood netting 22 goals in the Championship as they were promoted to the Premier League.
Can Josh Ajala be the next big striker for West Ham United?
With Divin Mubama failing to make the desired impact at the London Stadium, making just 18 appearances since being handed his debut by Moyes in November 2022, and Callum Marshall on loan with West Brom, fans should turn their attention to 17-year-old Josh Ajala.
The youngster has already registered six goals and one assist in 11 appearances for the Hammers’ Under 18s this season, with coach Kevin Keen singling him out for praise.
Speaking after West Ham U18s’ 2-1 victory over Southampton (24 February), Keen said: “I am really proud of the group because it was a good, solid, performance and there was a couple of super finishes from Josh Ajala too.”
Ajala smashed home a first-half brace as the young Hammers picked up all three points at home, securing his fifth and sixth goals of the season.
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Josh Ajala scored twice as our U18s beat Southampton yesterday ⚒️
— West Ham United (@WestHam) February 25, 2024
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At 17 years of age, the Nigerian forward has already been involved with the next age group, making small cameos in Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy.
Having signed his first professional contract with West Ham back in November last year, Ajala is an extremely exciting product of the club’s academy.
Though he will require much more development, and especially experience at senior level, Ajala should be a name that West Ham fans keep an eye on for the future, with room for a young prospect in Moyes’ current squad.
Forget Mumbama, Ajala is in town.
In other West Ham news, Ally McCoist has made a new demand of Hammers star Jarrod Bowen live on talkSPORT
