Talented young West Ham midfielder Dan Chesters has signed a new contract at the club and has been challenged to push for first-team football [Whufc.com].
Chesters joined the Hammers aged nine and is highly rated by the club’s coaching staff.
He’s currently a regular in the U23s, making 15 Premier League 2 appearances so far this season, playing out on the right as well as in an attacking midfield role.
The 19-year-old also enjoyed a very special moment back in October, when he made his first-team debut as a late substitute in a Europa League clash against Genk.
Now, he’s been rewarded for his progression with a contract extension.
West Ham talent Dan Chesters signs new deal
Chesters is now tied to the club until the summer of 2024 and delighted U23s Lead Coach Mark Robson now wants the youngster to push on.
“Dan is a young lad who has really impressed us since I’ve been here,” he said [Whufc.com]. “He’s a quick player, he’s got good pace and he loves to run in behind, which is a real plus.”
“He’s good on the ball technically. He can link the play and has a lot of positives in his arsenal going forward. We’re pleased with his extension and now we’ve got more time to work with him and help him improve.
“We’ve talked a lot with Dan about where we can improve him a bit more and set him some targets. The challenge for Dan now is to hit those targets between now and the end of the season, and possibly even force his way into the first-team scene in the coming year or so.”
Chesters is one of a number of exciting young talents who received their first taste of senior action during the Europa League group stages.
The experience made a real impression on him and it’s clear that he’s now expected to be challenging for Premier League matchday squads sooner rather than later.
One key thing he may need to improve before that happens is his end product, as despite often being given attacking license, he’s only scored one goal and notched three assists from his 15 PL2 outings this season.
There was no room for him in the squad that travelled to Kidderminster in the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon, with Armstrong Oxoflex and Aji Alese the only two U23s regulars to make the cut, despite the sixth-tier status of their opponents.
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