WEST HAM have confirmed the signing of promising youngster Patrick Kelly.

The 17-year-old joins the Hammers from NIFL Premiership club Coleraine and has signed a three-year deal running until June 2025.

He will link up with Mark Robson's development squad at Chadwell Heath and will aim to break into the first team during his time at the club.

Kelly is the third Northern Ireland U19 international to join West Ham's academy in the past two years, following countrymen Michael Forbes and Callum Marshall.

He told WHUFC: “I’m delighted to join West Ham.

“This is a great opportunity for me. I’ve worked hard over the last couple of years, and I think West Ham is a good club for me to come into and continue my development, do well and hopefully have a good career in the game.

“The names that have come through the Academy of Football and gotten chances are well known, so there is definitely a pathway here. It’s on the players to show they have what it takes, so I’m excited for that chance.”

Academy Manager Ricky Martin is excited for Kelly to showcase his ability and try to reach his potential with the club.

He said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Patrick to the West Ham United Academy, and we are delighted he has chosen to continue his development with us.

“Patrick has shown true ability and a lot of potential over the past season with Coleraine and we are excited to have him as a part of the West Ham family. We hope he will enjoy a very successful career with the Club.”

Born in the seaside resort of Portstewart, County Londonderry, just a few miles north of Coleraine in Northern Ireland, Kelly made his senior debut for the Bannsiders as a substitute 3-0 NIL Premiership win at Carrick Rangers on September 4 2021. 

The young midfielder would go on to make 28 appearances for Coleraine during the 2021/22 campaign, with 23 coming in the NIFL Premiership, three in the Northern Ireland Football League Cup and two in the Irish Cup. 

Of those 28 appearances, 17 would be starts for Kelly in his full debut season with Coleraine. 

Kelly’s first, and so far only, senior goal came in a 6-0 Irish Cup first-round win over Windmill Stars in January 2022.