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Eddie Chikamhi

Senior Sports Reporter

AFTER contributing towards West Ham United Under-18’s league and Youth Cup double and then earning his first professional contract at the weekend, Zimbabwean teenager Sean Tarima can only hope the sky is the limit. 

Tarima has enjoyed a successful season with the Hammers Under-18s, winning the FA Youth Cup and the Under-18 Premier League South division in a historic double for the club. 

In his own words, the 18-year-old defender has had an incredible season and is eager to continue his development next season after signing professional terms with the English Premiership club. 

“I’m really pleased and excited to sign my first professional contract,” Tarima told the West Ham website. 

“I have been here since the age of 10 and I have worked really hard for this moment. 

“It is a great achievement for myself and for my family. I couldn’t have done it without all the coaches who have helped me along my journey. 

“I found out recently and I couldn’t stop smiling when I found out. I couldn’t believe it and it was a special moment when I told my family. It was unbelievable to see their reactions and to see how happy they were for me.” 

Tarima became the fourth Hammers Academy player to agree terms with the club in the last few days, with Mason Terry, Ryan Battrum and Billy Bates also penning deals. 

Callum Marshall, Ollie Scarles, Gideon Kodua and Lewis Orford have also signed professional contracts in the 2022/23 season with West Ham United. 

Academy Manager Kenny Brown said: “We are delighted to agree professional terms with Sean. 

“Sean is a local lad who epitomises the tradition of the Academy of Football in nurturing and developing players from our area, and it has been a joy to watch him progress through our age groups. 

“After a significant spell out injured, Sean has shown immense character and determination to not only recover but return and become even better. 

“He has shown his talent in the second half of the season with our Under-18s and has played a key role in their success.” 

Tarima was born in the United Kingdom to Zimbabwean parents, which makes him eligible to play for either Zimbabwe or England in the future. 

He is traditionally an athletic centre-back, but is also comfortable playing further up the pitch in midfield. Tarima joined the Hammers as a 10-year-old after a spell with popular Sunday side Euro Dagenham. 

Having developed through the ranks in the Academy of Football, Tarima would make 17 appearances for the Under-18s in the 2021/22 campaign before a long-term injury hampered his start to the 2022/23 season. 

Despite the set-back, the versatile defender recovered to become an integral part of the young Hammers, making 15 outings in Under-18s Premier League South while playing a role in every round of the FA Youth Cup. 

He made 22 appearances in all competitions this campaign for the Under-18s, helping Kevin Keen’s side to claim the Under-18 Premier League South division trophy and the FA Youth Cup. 

Tarima started both the Youth Cup semi-final at London Stadium and the final at the Emirates Stadium, helping the Irons to a 5-1 win over Arsenal to lift a fourth trophy in the Club’s history. 

The 18-year-old also made his Under-21s debut, earning his introduction to the development team as a substitute in the Premier League International Cup win over Feyenoord in November. 

“It has been a crazy season. I remember seeing videos of some of the Premier League’s top players winning and playing in the FA Youth Cup, so to play in it myself and to win it is crazy. 

“It was a great way to sign off with the Under-18s and now I’m ready for next season with the Under-21s. Hopefully I can carry this success on into next season,” he said. 

“I’ve been here for a long time with a lot of the boys, so it has been great to go through the age groups together with familiar faces. It has been great to see everyone growing up and developing, it has been an amazing journey. 

“This is a really special group and we have performed so well across several competitions. We set goals at the start of the season and to achieve those goals by winning the FA Youth Cup and the league was unbelievable. We always talk about togetherness, but the togetherness of this group has played a big part in our success. 

“I’m delighted to have won the trophies that we did and I’m also pleased to have ended the season so strongly. I’ve definitely got my confidence back.”