Young West Ham United defender Will Greenidge is set to join League Two side Colchester United on loan for the rest of the season.
The 20-year-old, who has made 17 appearances for the club’s under-21s this season across Premier League 2 and the Papa John’s Trophy, is set to follow in the footsteps of Hammers academy midfielder Dan Chesters, who spent the first half of the campaign on loan with the Essex side.
First reported on The West Ham Way podcast , football.london understands that a deal for Greenidge to join Colchester is close, which would be his first taste of senior football.
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A versatile defender, Greenidge can play across the back line, starting as a left wing-back against Manchester United’s under-21s on Friday night before moving to the right side in the second half of the game.
While Greenidge is yet to make a senior matchday squad, he has made 78 appearances for the academy at under-18 and under-21 levels in the Premier League 2, Under-18s Premier League, Papa John’s Trophy and FA Youth Cup.
In six appearances in the Papa John’s trophy when playing against League One and League two sides, Greenidge has scored once, netting in a win over Cheltenham Town in October 2022.
Greenidge signed his first professional contract with West Ham in June 2022 and has been in the club’s academy since the age of six.
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