Pierre Ekwah Elimby has officially joined West Ham United, with the Premier League side confirming the 19-year-old’s arrival on a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year. The Chelsea Development Squad youngster had already had a trial with the Hammers’ U23s recently, having also visited Portsmouth, among others possibly, with his contract at Chelsea set to expire this summer.
Ekwah cited West Ham’s record of youth development as the main reason behind his decision.
“I really think that West Ham is a Club where everyone is working all together. The U23s and the first team work really closely to each other, and I think that young players here have got a good chance of breaking into the first team, as they have done in the past.”
-Pierre Ekwah Elimby; source: WHU FC
We are delighted to announce the signing of promising French midfielder Pierre Ekwah.
— West Ham United (@WestHam) June 9, 2021
Welcome to the Club, Pierre! ⚒
Paris-born Ekwah, who describes himself as a box-to-box midfielder, joined Chelsea two years ago from FC Nantes in his native France. Chelsea reportedly paid a nominal fee (€1-2m) at the time alongside a two-year contract, and by tendering an extension to him now, ensure that we receive a similarly nominal fee (~€1.5m) with a potential sell-on clause in the future as well.
Ekway, who can also play as a center back, featured 30 times for the Chelsea youth teams over the past couple years, and he’s also represented France at the U16 level.
Good luck, young man!
Transfert de 1.5M et gros % à la revente pour Chelsea https://t.co/llHMWFuMn8
— Loïc Tanzi (@Tanziloic) June 3, 2021