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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Sam Tabuteau

West Ham hand tie starlet down to new deal as academy transfer plan revealed after relegation

West Ham Under-21 defender Regan Clayton has signed a new one-year contract.

The 21-year-old’s deal had been due to expire next month, but Standard Sport understands that he has now agreed fresh terms until the end of the 2026/27 season.

Clayton joined Braintree Town on a short-term youth loan deal at the start of last season before making a further 26 appearances for West Ham’s U21s.

An FA Youth Cup winner with West Ham during the 2022/23 season, Clayton was twice called up to the senior squad during their run to the Conference League title in 2023.

20-year-old striker Daniel Cummings, who joined West Ham from Celtic last summer, is currently expected to pursue a loan move ahead of next season.

Staying put: Regan Clayton (Getty Images)
Staying put: Regan Clayton (Getty Images)

Cummings spent his first few months at the club recovering from a shoulder injury, but returned to form and fitness at the turn of the year, scoring six times as West Ham’s U21s finished runners-up in the National League Cup.

West Ham were relegated to the Championship last weekend despite beating Leeds 3-0 at the London Stadium.

The Hammers finished on 39 points, the highest total recorded by a relegated team in the Premier League in 15 years.

Loan move pending: Daniel Cummings (Getty Images)
Loan move pending: Daniel Cummings (Getty Images)

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will play outside of the English top-flight for the first time in 14 years next season, but are set to stick with the Portuguese coach after lengthy talks over his future.

In a statement on Wednesday, West Ham said Nuno had reiterated his commitment to the club and would lead them into the Championship next season.

“We held meetings with Head Coach Nuno Espírito Santo early this week and are pleased to confirm that he has expressed his continued commitment to the Club – as we have to him,” the statement read.

“Nuno made it very clear that he is highly motivated for the challenge of guiding West Ham United back to the top flight at the first time of asking. That must be the unquestionable goal for next season. Nuno has spent one previous year in the EFL Championship and it was an outstanding success as he secured 99 points to win the title with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2018.”

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