According to West Ham United's official report, academy defender Leo-Erik Jordan Smith has signed his first professional contract with the club.
Official Announcement
The tall, elegant centre-back is known for his composure and technical ability. The teenager, who celebrates his 17th birthday today, first joined the Hammers' academy at a very young age before returning to the club in November 2020 after a spell with Colchester United.
Over the past six years, Jordan Smith has progressed rapidly through the age groups. He has made 11 appearances for the U18 team, lifted the U17 Premier League Cup last season, and signed an academy scholarship in July. Now he is delighted to have secured a full-time professional contract.
"I'm over the moon," Jordan Smith said. "It feels like a dream come true! I've been here a long time, and I've watched the older age groups over the years. You always have a goal you want to reach, so the moment I signed my professional contract felt surreal, and sharing it with my family was especially special.
"I was born in Newham, and my family moved to Chadwell Heath when I was young, so I'm a local lad. To be honest, this signing feels a bit like coming full circle, because I was in the academy when I was very young but didn't progress to the U9s, and then I came back to the club.
"I spent two years at Colchester before signing with West Ham United, and since then I've been learning and improving every day. A lot of things have slowly fallen into place over the last two years, and I feel like I've been getting better and better.
"I made my U18 debut on my 16th birthday, when the team beat Ipswich Town 8-2. Luckily, I got more opportunities last season. I've always focused on using these experiences to improve myself, and I think that has really brought me to where I am now."
At the start of the 2026/27 season, Jordan Smith has clearly taken another step forward. He captained the U18 team in league victories against Birmingham City and Aston Villa, made his first three appearances for the England U18 team in September, and made his U21 competitive debut in the Premier League International Cup against Monaco B in October.
With plenty of games still to play this season, and now with a professional contract signed, he is determined to stay grounded and keep progressing in the coming weeks and months.
"The season has started really well, and I just want to keep doing my best," Jordan Smith continued. "I'm really proud to wear the captain's armband for the U18 team because it's a huge honour. Getting into the U21 team is also great because it's another step up, and I think it can only help me.
"In that environment, there are some players who already have first-team experience. Playing against opponents like Monaco also means facing players from different backgrounds and with different styles, which brings new challenges.
"I just want to keep moving forward step by step, and of course, eventually, I hope to make that bigger leap into the first team."
At the signing ceremony, Academy Manager Nathaniel Brown was present alongside Jordan Smith's parents, grandfather and sister. Brown has been impressed by the qualities the player has shown on and off the pitch throughout his time in the academy.
Brown was particularly pleased with Jordan Smith's maturity, professionalism and leadership, and he looks forward to watching him continue to develop.
He said: "I am absolutely delighted for Leo and his family. He's a fantastic young man with great potential.
"He's a pleasure to work with because he always wants to learn and improve. He's very popular within the squad and has all the qualities a West Ham United player should have – humble, polite and extremely hard-working.
"He's very grounded and has a great support network around him. We are all excited to see what happens next. I think the next stage for him is to keep establishing himself in the U18 team while gradually gaining experience with the U21s, but he's in great form right now, and the best football is still ahead of him."
Everyone at West Ham United congratulates Leo on signing his first professional contract and wishes him every success in Claret and Blue.