{"id":251467,"date":"2025-07-09T18:48:12","date_gmt":"2025-07-09T18:48:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/251467\/"},"modified":"2025-07-09T18:48:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T18:48:12","slug":"former-young-player-of-the-year-returns-to-london-seven-years-after-west-ham-exit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/251467\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Young Player of the Year returns to London seven years after West Ham exit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Which pathway will Ollie Scarles take? Will West Ham United\u2019s 2024\/25 Young Player of the Year follow in the footsteps of Declan Rice? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Will he one day become a regular fixture in the England XI? Will he reach the heights of the Champions League, or perhaps challenge for the Premier League title back home?<\/p>\n

Declan Rice was named West Ham\u2019s Young Player of the Year<\/a> for four seasons running from 2017 to 2020. <\/p>\n

Half a decade on, he is now the most expensive British footballer of all time. Real Madrid are still reeling, meanwhile, from the two sublime free-kicks Rice curled past Thibaut Courtois during a famous 3-0 Arsenal victory in the spring.<\/p>\n

Rice, then, sets the benchmark for the brightest, baby-faced talent emerging from West Ham United\u2019s<\/a> academy these days. It was Michael Carrick, Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand all those years ago. Now, Rice is the example for Ollie Scarles<\/a> and co to follow even if that \u00a3105 million switch to London neighbours Arsenal did leave a sour taste in many Hammers mouths.<\/p>\n

Another Young Player of the Year of the recent past is also earning a living in London as of Wednesday morning; Reece Burke completing his return to the capital.<\/p>\n

\"NewPhoto by Dave Howarth \u2013 CameraSport via Getty ImagesReece Burke joins West Ham United\u2019s London neighbours Charlton Athletic<\/p>\n

Centre-back Reece Burke was named the best young talent at West Ham United all the way back in 2015.<\/p>\n

A tally five of Premier League appearances was as close as he would come, however, to nailing down a first-team berth. A tally Scarles overtook in the space of just a few months last season.<\/p>\n

For the first time since leaving West Ham for Hull City in 2018, meanwhile, the Newham-born Burke returns to the city of his birth. He joins a Charlton Athletic side whose stadium is situated just five-and-a-half miles from the Hammers\u2019 cavernous home.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really pleased to be here,\u201d Burke tells the official Charlton website after reuniting with the manager under whom he briefly played Premier League football at Luton Town; Nathan Jones. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve worked with Nathan before. It felt like we had a good connection. I felt he brought the best out of me. I know what sort of team he can build and that environment is something I want to be a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

‘We\u2019re really pleased to bring Reece in \u2013 he\u2019s a wonderful defender and a really good character. He comes to us with plenty of Premier League and Championship experience and will really add to the group.’ \ud83d\udcaa<\/p>\n

The gaffer on our fifth summer signing \u270d\ufe0f#cafc<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/IRAdIACYVT<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Charlton Athletic FC (@CAFCofficial) July 9, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

The wild-eyed Jones is hoping to repeat his remarkable Luton success story at The Valley. He guided Charlton \u2013 another former Premier League stalwart to fall on hard times under nightmarish ownership \u2013 back to the Championship in May via a play-off final victory over London neighbours Leyton Orient.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re really pleased to bring Reece in,\u201d smiles Jones. \u201cHe\u2019s a wonderful defender and a really good character. He comes to us with plenty of Premier League and Championship experience and will really add\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0group.\u201d<\/p>\n

Divin Mubama and Reece Oxford yet to reach the heights post-West Ham<\/p>\n

Burke is, it should be said, one of the more successful of West Ham\u2019s recent Young Player of the Year winners. A Football League veteran with 27 top-flight appearances on his CV. <\/p>\n

Rice remains the undoubted pinnacle, though.<\/p>\n

Divin Mubama joined Stoke City on loan after Manchester City decided against promoting him to Pep Guardiola\u2019s first-team<\/a>. Ben Johnson has struggled to nail down a spot at Ipswich Town, meanwhile. And Reece Oxford leaves Bundesliga outfit FC Augsburg<\/a> following a series of devastating injury blows which have kept him on the sidelines since November 2022.<\/p>\n

Speaking of Charlton, meanwhile, former West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski missed out<\/a> on a potential switch to the Valley this month.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n