Oxford commits to Hammers

Reece Oxford has committed his future to West Ham by signing a new four-and-a-half-year contract with the club.

Oxford has been linked with a host of top clubs, including Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal since making his debut as a 16-year-old last season.

Despite the reported interest from some of the Premier League's biggest clubs, Oxford has signed a long-term deal to remain at the London Stadium.

“I am happy to have signed my new contract. There was a lot of speculation about my future but I am happy that it has been done and I can get back to football. I just want to kick on now," Oxford told the club's official website.

"I have made my family proud and hopefully I have made the fans proud that I have signed a new contract. Hopefully I can get into the team and help them throughout the whole season.

"I have a good relationship with the gaffer and hopefully I can get a lot of game time here. I have seen some of the old players like Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand and I want to follow in their footsteps.

"Hopefully, I can become just as big as them or even bigger. Hopefully, I can step out and follow what they have achieved."

Manager Slaven Bilic believes Oxford has the potential to become one of the club's biggest stars and is delighted to have secured him on a new four-and-a-half-year deal.

“I am delighted and it is major news for both the Club and the player that he has committed his long-term future to West Ham United," he said.

“I really believe he has got everything. On paper he has all the abilities to become a world-class player and it is now up to him to train hard and for us to manage him well for him to fulfil it.

“We wanted him to stay and the Board did everything to keep him. The interest from the other big clubs was real and that shows what a big talent he is.

“It is the right decision for him because we are a great Club where he can become a top player.

“He has been out injured but he is now coming back and I believe in him a lot. He is a great prospect and is the leader of the pack when it comes to the younger players.”