West Ham have snapped up Oladapo Afolayan from Solihull Moors
The 21-year-old, once of the Chelsea academy, has scored 11 goals in 30 National League appearances this season and will join up with Terry Westley's Under-23 squad before being considered for the first team.
“It's a dream come true," said Afolayan, who joined West Ham for an undisclosed fee. “I've worked hard to get here and I'm grateful for the opportunity.
“I started out with Chelsea and was there until I was 15, then my family moved to Canada and I was part of the Academy at Toronto FC. Then, when we moved back, I studied civil engineering at Loughborough University before the opportunity arose to join Solihull and play in the National League and it was something I couldn't turn down.
“Now, the opportunity has come to join a Premier League club and West Ham is one which has always given youngsters opportunities to come through, as we have seen this season, so I've come here to get into the first team and make a name for myself."
In a statement on their website Solihull Moors said of Afolayan: “He will be sorely missed by everybody here at the Automated Technology Group Stadium, but Solihull Moors will not stand in the way of such talent and we all wish him a long and successful future in the Premiership [sic]."
