Losing two of their most exciting young talents is not the way West Ham United wanted to end the winter window, Emeka Adiele joining FC Utrecht three days after Tottenham Hotspur snared Elisha Sowunmi.
The club’s top scorer at Under-18 level in 2024/25, Sowunmi followed Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham on Friday. Bringing an end to ten years in the West Ham United academy in the process.
Another of their Under-21 talents would depart an hour or so before the 7pm deadline on Monday evening. Emeka Adiele joined Eredivisie outfit FC Utrecht on a four-year deal. Adiele rejected Juventus and Borussia Dortmund along the way, feeling that a fresh start in the Netherlands was ‘the best option’ available to him.
A worrying development as another Hammers starlet leaves! 😟
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Now, interest from Italy’s most successful club, plus a German giant who snapped up Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham while they were still teenagers, is quite the compliment.
Utrecht have confirmed via their official website that a number of unnamed English teams wanted to sign 18-year-old Adiele too.
Emeka Adiele could have left West Ham United for a Premier League rival
Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images
So while his departure will be a disappointment to many in East London – Adiele was regarded very highly by many West Ham fans – at least they will not have to endure the humiliation of seeing the swashbuckling left-back blossom at a Premier League rival.
“Many clubs in England, and beyond, saw his potential and tried to lure Adiele, without success. He chose to follow FC Utrecht’s lead,” reads a statement provided by a club sitting 12th in the Dutch top flight as things stand.
“Adiele is only 18 years old, but he’s incredibly talented.”
In an ironic twist of fate, Adiele appears to be the long-term replacement for Souffian El Karouani.
El Karouani appeared keen on a move to West Ham, having talked up the Premier League strugglers after catching the eye of a ‘great club’ from the English capital. The Dutch-born Morocco international is moving to Saudi Arabia at the end of the campaign, instead. El Karouani has agreed to join Brendan Rodgers’ Al-Qadsiah when his contract expires.
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