Where West Ham 2018 youth XI is now - from Declan Rice to Celtic treble and Charlton Athletic promotion push

Former West Ham star and youth academy product Declan Rice lit up the stage of European football this week with a head-turning brace for Arsenal in the Champions League quarter final first leg against Real Madrid.

The England international scored from two direct free kicks under the lights at the Emirates Stadium as he continues to look worth every pound of the £100 million paid by the Gunners to the Hammers in 2023. Rice had made 245 appearances for West Ham, winning the Europa Conference League in his final season, having spent a decade at the football club.

As the former West Ham youngster continues to dazzle, LondonWorld looks at where his Hammers youth colleagues are these days. Rice’s last match for the West Ham under-23 side came in a 0-0 draw with Chelsea in October 2017 - here’s where the rest of that starting XI are now.

GK - Nathan Trott

The 26-year-old was still on the books at West Ham until last summer, despite making just one senior appearance. That came in an FA Cup win over Doncaster Rovers in 2021 and was just a seven minute cameo.

Trott was sent on loan to AFC Wimbledon, Nancy and Vejle before joining Danish outfit Copenhagen last summer for a reported £1.5 million. The shot-stopper had started each of his new side’s 14 league matches this season but has been on the bench since November.

LB - Vashon Neufville

The defender never broke into the West Ham first team and left the club in 2019 when released. He went on to join Canadian Premier League side Atlético Ottawa, where he picked up an assist and a red card on his debut. He last played for Walton Casuals in England in 2022.

CB - Josh Pask

Another who never made a first team appearance, the 27-year-old is now with The New Saints, a Welsh side that plays in the Cymru Premier. Pask has been involved in Champions League qualifying, Europa League qualifying and Europa Conference League action. His side were knocked out of the latter competition in the Group Stage.

Declan Rice fielded in defence against Chelsea under-23s

CB - Declan Rice

The Arsenal star had been a regular in the West Ham under-21 side until that point, when he started to move on to bigger things. The captain of the Chelsea game, Rice played all 90 minutes in a more unusual role of centre-back - perhaps highlighting where the robust midfielder cultivated his defensive knowhow.

RB - Ben Johnson

Went on to make over 100 appearances for West Ham but struggled to hold down a spot in the starting XI. Johnson left the club at the end of last season, having reportedly turned down a new contract, and joined newly-promoted Ipswich Town.

In a message shared via the club website when leaving the London Stadium, Johnson said: “Thank you to everyone associated with West Ham United for supporting me over the last 17 years and developing me into a first-team player.

“I have been blessed to have come through the Academy of Football and to play for the first team in the Premier League, domestic cups and in European competitions. I just want to be known and remembered for my time at West Ham for having played with a smile on my face and having really enjoyed my football. That’s really important to me.

“I would say the most special memory I have is winning the UEFA Europa Conference League. To be involved in a European trophy win doesn’t come around frequently, so to be around and be part of it, and to be able to achieve that with West Ham was incredible. My dreams were exceeded by what happened two seasons ago and I’m just so, so pleased I did it as a West Ham player. I’ll never forget that night.

“I wish West Ham every success for the upcoming season under the new head coach and of course I’m going to miss all my teammates and the staff, along with the supporters. West Ham will always be a part of my life which I’ll remember with fondness and a lot of love. I’ve developed into a young man and better player because of West Ham, so finally a huge thank you to the Club!”

Conor Coventry chasing League One promotion with Charlton Athletic

CM - Conor Coventry

Did go on to make 10 first team appearances for West Ham and was part of the Europa Conference League winning squad. Left West Ham to join Charlton Athletic in January 2024 and has become a key playmaker for the League One outfit under Nathan Jones.

The 25-year-old is part of an Addicks squad pushing for promotion this season and is also part of the Republic of Ireland set-up. Charlton Athletic did not pay a transfer fee to bring Coventry to The Valley.

CM - Domingos Quina

Quina is the son of former Portugal international Samuel Quina and is now playing his football in Cyprus at Pafos. After leaving West Ham to join Watford in 2018, the midfielder spent time on loan at Fulham, Barnsley and Rotherham United. He made six first team appearances for the Hammers but none in the Premier League.

LW - Nathan Holland

A product of the Everton youth academy, the midfielder was on the books at West Ham between 2017 and 2022, during which time he had two successful loan stints at Oxford United. He last played for Forest Green Rovers but was released when the club was relegated from League Two last summer.

The former England under-19 international made his debut for West Ham in a 3-0 League Cup win over Bolton Wanderers in 2017 and did also pick up minutes in two Premier League matches.

CAM - Dan Kemp

Kemp broke through from the West Ham academy having also been part of the Chelsea set-up as a youngster. The 26-year-old never played for the Hammers first team before joining Leyton Orient in 2021. The midfielder joined League One side Stevenage on a two-year contract last summer.

Celtic striker wins treble

RW - Sead Haksabanovic

Hakšabanović swapped his birth country of Sweden for West Ham in 2017 and spent three years in London. He’s now back playing in Sweden for Malmo but represents Montenegro on the international stage.

The striker is perhaps best known for his two years at Celtic between 2022 and 2024. He made 42 appearances for the Glasgow giants, winning the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup in a 2023 treble.

ST - Toni Martínez

The forward was only granted three first team outings for West Ham but did pick up an assist in those matches, coming in a 1-0 FA Cup replay win over Shrewsbury Town in 2018. He left the club in 2019 on his contract’s expiry and is now playing for Alaves in Spain.

In other news, West Ham have agreed a deal 'in principle' to sign a Premier League star amid 'hijack' threat.