Graham Potter urged to hand West Ham’s Chelsea recruit debut as club eyes huge savings

West Ham fans are calling for Graham Potter to hand 18-year-old Josh Ajala his first-team debut, with the Chelsea academy product showing red-hot form that could save the club millions in the summer transfer window.

With Evan Ferguson ’s loan set to expire and summer target Jhon Duran well out of reach following his move to Al-Nassr, West Ham face the daunting task of signing multiple strikers ahead of next season. But the solution might already be at the club.

Ajala, signed from Chelsea in 2023, has been tearing it up for West Ham’s development sides, notching his sixth goal of the season in the ongoing Premier League 2 with a cool finish against Reading. Potter has already integrated academy talents like Oliver Scarles and Lewis Orford, and if his resume at Brighton is anything to go by, he knows a thing or two about nurturing talents.

Given the Hammers’ tight budget following last summer’s £155 million spend, the teenager’s emergence could be a game-changer. Ajala’s performances aren’t just about numbers, his brace against Southampton early in the season set the tone, and he followed it up with a winner against Norwich. Even in a chaotic 5-3 loss to Leicester City's under-18s, he stood out, scoring twice.

With the season winding down and many of West Ham’s attacking options in form slumps, many believe now is the perfect time for Potter to hand Ajala his Premier League debut. It wouldn’t just reward the youngster’s hard work but could also send a powerful message to other academy talents choosing West Ham to nourish their nascent careers.

The 18-year-old joined West Ham after spending his entire schoolboy career at Chelsea, a club renowned for its stacked academy. Frustrated by the lack of opportunity, Ajala made the switch to east London in search of regular football — a decision that now looks inspired.

Described by West Ham U21 coach Kenny Brown as a “natural finisher” with blistering pace and sharp movement, Ajala has flourished in claret and blue. Brown said earlier this season, via Green Street Hammers : “It’s clear there is so much more to come from Josh.”

Ajala’s ability to play off the shoulder of defenders, combined with his two-footed finishing, makes him a nightmare for opposition backlines. Whether darting through gaps or pressing high, he embodies the kind of modern forward Potter loves to work with.

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