West Ham United Young Defender Signs A New Multi-Year Deal: Why Is It A Good Decision? | OneFootball

Nuno Espirito Santo has brought a visible change in energy in West Ham that runs deep through the club’s academy, but results on the field have not improved as of yet. Young players who once trained with little hope of reaching senior football now see a clear path ahead. Every decision the new manager makes strengthens that belief.

West Ham young defender Airidas Golambekis has signed a new deal

Claret and Hugh reported that promising defender Airidas Golambekis signed a new multi-year deal, and the move has shown clear intent. Espirito Santo recently gave game time to academy graduates Freddie Potts and Callum Marshall. He needed only two matches to set a promising tone.

Unlike his predecessor Graham Potter, the Portuguese manager looks determined to connect the club’s future with its present. He promoted several academy coaches into assistant roles to help build that bridge. They know the young players well, and they have shaped their progress. Now they sit beside the man who selects the team.

Julen Lopetegui ignored that connection, and Graham Potter failed to improve it. Now, Espirito Santo is rebuilding structure and trust. The system is breathing again. Golambekis’s new deal is showing that faith has returned between Mark Noble’s young group and the senior set-up. The club is exploring transfers such as Charlie Cresswell’s potential signing and their growing interest in Ivan Toney. Yet the real strength lies in how they will nurture their own players. That’s where the difference stands out.

Why This Is a Step in the Right Direction?

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: Nuno Espirito Santo, Manager of West Ham United, applauds the fans after the Premier League match between Everton and West Ham United at Hill Dickinson Stadium on September 29, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Backing youth isn’t just refreshing; it’s necessary. Espirito Santo rewards effort over reputation and is sending a strong message through the squad. He tells them that performance matters more than seniority. Potts and Marshall’s presence under the lights drives others to push harder.

It especially motivates George Earthy, whose contract remains uncertain. As Earthy recovers from his hamstring injury, he probably feels that staying at the club can finally lead somewhere. Golambekis’s renewal reassures the rest of the group. For years, West Ham United struggled to balance short-term ambition with long-term planning.

Now, they seem to have found that balance. The club is treating youth development as a key part of the plan instead of an afterthought. Espirito Santo shows that he trusts the next generation instead of hiding it behind expensive signings. If he keeps this approach, West Ham can finally end the inconsistency that has haunted past seasons. The decision looks not just good, but long overdue.