Premier League outfit West Ham United have snapped up promising Stockport County youngster Danny Whitehead for an undisclosed fee.
The 19-year-old attacking midfielder made 43 appearances for the Hatters as they were relegated from the Blue Square Bet Premier last term.
He signs on a two-year deal with the option for a third and was on trial at the East London club during the back-end of last season.
“I’m very excited to have joined West Ham and I can’t wait to get out there and play,” Whitehead told the Hammers’ official website.
“It’s obviously a big step up, but I’ve got to take the opportunity and grasp it.
“I’ve got a bit of experience from playing for the first team at Stockport- I’ll probably be with the Under-21s here at the start, and then I’ll be trying to push towards the first team.”
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce revealed that he had spoken with Hatters’ boss Ian Bogie about the move and that another former County manager had recommended he take a closer look.
“He was recommended by Didi Hamann – who managed Stockport – as he felt he was an emerging talent that needed nurturing,” Allardyce explained.
“He’s very capable on the ball and he’s able to create with his passing. He’s very slight, which we’ll work on, but the question is can we create that potential into a Premier League player?
“It is something we’ll find out over the coming years through our Academy system and we’ll see if he can join the long list of players that have come through.”
Whitehead joined Stockport at the age of 14 and made is first team debut – under Hamann – three years later, appearing as a substitute in a 4-2 defeat to Fleetwood Town.
He netted six times last season and becomes West Ham’s fourth summer signing, alongside Andy Carroll, Adrian and Romanian Razvan Rat.
Picture courtesy of Stockport County FC, with thanks.
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