Ben Johnson pens new West Ham United deal and will hope to emulate Declan Rice

Wed 20 March 2019 19:45, UK

West Ham United have this morning confirmed the news that Ben Johnson has penned a new contract with the club until 2022.

The 19-year-old made his first-team debut for the Hammers against Manchester City in February

(Photo by Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images)

Prominently a right-back, Johnson can also play left-back or on the right-wing making him a versatile performer.

His first-team debut for the Hammers actually came at left-back in a narrow 1-0 loss to the reigning champions.

The academy graduate has been with West Ham since the age of seven and has been a regular in Liam Manning’s Under-23 side this season.

Johnson’s new deal will delight the Hammers supporters, who relish seeing their own earn places in the first-team.

Boss Manuel Pellegrini clearly saw something in Johnson’s first performance and he looks set for a bright future at the London Stadium.

Johnson will hope to follow in the footsteps of Declan Rice who has shone since making the leap to senior football.

(photo by John Patrick Fletcher/Action Plus via Getty Images)

Rice is expected to play his first game for England over the next week, having played 32 games and scored twice this season.

His form has clearly made the West Ham hierarchy stand up and take notice of some of the club’s other academy stars.

Rice is the model for all the young lads at West Ham and Johnson will hope to emulate his meteoric rise.

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