Reece Oxford

Reece Oxford

Oxford warming up for West Ham United in 2014
Personal information
Full name Reece Joel Oxford[1]
Date of birth (1998-12-16) 16 December 1998[2]
Place of birth Edmonton, England
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Playing position Centre-back
Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 West Ham United
Number 35
Youth career
0000–2011 Tottenham Hotspur[3]
2011–2014 West Ham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014– West Ham United 7 (0)
National team‡
2013 England U16 3 (0)
2014–2015 England U17 18 (1)
2016– England U18 2 (0)
2015– England U19 4 (0)
2016– England U20 3 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:13, 1 May 2016 (UTC).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15:00, 11 October 2016 (UTC)

Reece Joel Oxford (born 16 December 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club West Ham United. Oxford made his debut for West Ham aged 16 years and 198 days, making him the club's youngest ever player, beating a record of 16 years and 221 days set in 1922 by Billy Williams.[4][5] He is considered as one of the best youth prospects in English football.[6]

Club career

Early career

Oxford was born in Edmonton, London[7] and was a boyhood supporter of Arsenal.[8] He started playing football at Tottenham Hotspur's academy but was released in 2011 after a short trial. He then joined West Ham United at U13 level.[9][3]

2014–15 season

During the 2014–15 season Oxford trained regularly with the senior West Ham squad while mainly playing with the club's U21 side. He captained the side on some occasions despite being the youngest individual. On 27 August 2014, he appeared on the bench for the first time aged 15 in a League Cup second round match against Sheffield United, remaining an unused substitute as they lost in a penalty shootout at the Boleyn Ground.[10][11] Still a youth team player, Oxford came to the attention of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United who all sent scouts to watch him play.[12] On 11 January 2015, Oxford signed a long-term professional contract committing his future to West Ham.[13] During the second half of the season Oxford made a number of appearances on the West Ham bench in the Premier League.[14][15][16] In May 2015, Oxford won the Dylan Tombides Academy Player of the Year Award at the club's player awards night for his performances in the youth team.[17]

2015–16 season

On 2 July 2015, Oxford made his competitive debut aged 16, starting in midfield in a UEFA Europa League first qualifying round first leg tie against FC Lusitanos, a 3–0 home win. In doing so, he became West Ham's youngest ever player.[18] On 9 August the same year, Oxford started his first professional league game, as West Ham began the Premier League season against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, playing the first 79 minutes of a 2–0 victory before being replaced by Kevin Nolan. Oxford, who only lost possession once in the match, became the second youngest Premier League starter of all time, after Jose Baxter.[19]

International career

Oxford has played for England up to U20 level and captained his country at the 2015 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[16] The team reached the quarter-finals, and Oxford scored in the penalty shootout as they defeated Spain in a play-off for the 2015 U-17 World Cup.[20] West Ham refused permission for him to play in the final tournament in Chile, fearing that exposure to an international football tournament would lead to burnout.[21]

Style of play

Uefa.com described his playing style as "Tall and quick, he is not daunted in the face of illustrious opponents".[22] Oxford has been, on numerous occasions, compared to former West Ham academy graduate Rio Ferdinand.[23][24]

Club statistics

As of match played 18 August 2016
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
West Ham United 2014–15[25] Premier League 0000000000
2015–16[26] Premier League 7020003[lower-alpha 1]0120
2016–17[27] Premier League 0000002[lower-alpha 1]020
Career total 70200050140
  1. 1 2 Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League

References

  1. ↑ "Player shirt numbers for 20 Barclays Premier League clubs released". Premier League. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Reece Oxford". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 "West Ham youngster Reece Oxford reveals he was rejected by Tottenham". The Guardian. London. 10 August 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  4. ↑ "West Ham United FC on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Manchester United FC on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  6. ↑ "Reece Oxford and the best Premier League youth prospects — in pictures". The Telegraph.
  7. ↑ Stonehouse, Gary (2 July 2015). "England U17s skipper enjoys winning senior Hammers debut". The Football Association. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  8. ↑ Benge, James (3 March 2016). "Boyhood Arsenal fan Reece Oxford delighted with West Ham's win over Tottenham". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "Reece Oxford: West Ham teenager was rejected by Tottenham". BBC Sport. 10 August 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  10. ↑ "BBC Sport — West Ham United 1–1 Sheffield United (4–5 on pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  11. ↑ "Reece Oxford on West Ham bench aged 15 years old amidst Arsenal interest". Daily Mail. London. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  12. ↑ "Transfer news: West Ham teenager Reece Oxford yet to agree professional contract". Sky Sports. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  13. ↑ "England U17s skipper Reece Oxford pens long-term contract with West Ham United on the pitch — England". The Football Association. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  14. ↑ Chris Osborne. "BBC Sport — West Ham United 1–0 Burnley". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  15. ↑ Emons, Michael. "BBC Sport — Queens Park Rangers 0–0 West Ham United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  16. 1 2 "West Ham and England U17s defender Reece Oxford aims to put Big Sam's lessons into practice against Europe's best — England". The Football Association. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  17. ↑ "Oxford collects Dylan Tombides Award — West Ham United". West Ham United F.C. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  18. ↑ "West Ham vs Lusitans match report: Diafra Sakho gives Hammers winning start to marathon season". The Independent. London. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  19. ↑ "Arsenal 0–2 West Ham". BBC Sport. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  20. ↑ Shergold, Adam (19 May 2015). "England U17 0–0 Spain U17 (Pens 5–3): Young Lions win shootout to qualify for Under 17 World Cup in Chile". Daily Mail. London. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  21. ↑ Edwards, Luke (3 October 2015). "West Ham refuse to let exciting midfield prospect Reece Oxford play for England". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  22. ↑ "UEFA.com's weekly wonderkid: Reece Oxford". Uefa.com.
  23. ↑ "Is Reece Oxford West Ham's new version of Rio Ferdinand?". HITC.
  24. ↑ "Manchester United lodge transfer bid for West Ham's Reece Oxford". Metro. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  25. ↑ "Games played by Reece Oxford in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  26. ↑ "Games played by Reece Oxford in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  27. ↑ "Games played by Reece Oxford in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
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