Teenage striking sensation Ademipo Odubeko signs his first professional deal with West Ham

NIGERIAN-born teenage striker Ademipo Odubeko has just signed his first professional contract with English Premier League side West Ham after impressing in the Manchester United youth team.

Popularly known as Mipo, Odubeko, who just turned 17, was born and raised in the Republic of Ireland and has been capped for Ireland’s U17 national team. He is eligible to play for Nigeria, Ireland and England and with him now going professional, there will no doubt be a tussle for his services at international level.

According to West Ham, Mipo joined the Hammers after spending his schoolboy years at Manchester United, where he scored 35 goals and netted on his U18 Premier League debut last season. He will join up with the West Ham  Academy of Football with plans to then make his way into the Hammers senior team.

Odubeko said: “It’s a really exciting day, I’ve been waiting for this move for a while, so I’m looking forward to getting started. West Ham is a club with a lot of history behind it as it promotes its young players, so it’s a great opportunity for me to develop my game and help the team.

 “I’m looking forward to moving to London. It’ll be a little different to Manchester, so it’s an exciting challenge.”

Ricky Martin, West Ham's academy manager, hailed the signing of the prolific-striker after the Hammers successfully fought off competition from other European clubs. He added: “Mipo signing for West Ham is another really positive story for the academy.”