The defender signed a new long-term contract out on the pitch at the Boleyn Ground at half time as the Hammers defeated Everton on penalties in The FA Cup.
The 16-year-old has already sat on the first team bench after being called into the squad for the League Cup clash with Sheffield United in August. And despite his tender years, he has become a regular for the club’s U21 side, and his form has seen him rewarded with his first professional contract.
'It's great to get the deal done and I'll try to kick on now'
Reece Oxford
The club’s academy manager Terry Westley was delighted to have secured the youngster’s signature, saying: "This makes a statement to other clubs out there that we're not going to let our best players leave and go elsewhere to ply their trade.
"We look at it like the Olympics, in four-year cycles. You finish London, then you look at Rio and you want to become a Gold medalist in those four years. The Gold medal for us is them playing for West Ham United in the Olympic Stadium in four years' time.”
And speaking of the club’s new stadium, Oxford is already thinking about rewarding the loyal following he has received with some performances of the highest calibre once there.
"Hopefully I can get my first-team debut there [at the new Stadium]," said Oxford.
“It's great to get the deal done and I'll try to kick on now and get into the first team. The fans are committed to me, they really wanted me to sign. They love their players here.”
