Joe Powell has completed a permanent move to join Burton Albion after failing to break into West Ham United’s first team this season
Via their official website, the Hammers confirmed the player’s departure on Tuesday afternoon. With Powell out of contract in the summer, Burton will only have to pay a nominal fee to the East London outfit.
The 21-year-old attacking midfielder has thanked the club for everything that they’ve done for him over the years.
I’ll always be thankful to the Club, who helped me get where I am today, and to the fans who have been supportive all the way through my time here. I’ll miss the place for sure.
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The academy graduate spent the latter stages of last season on loan at Northampton Town, where he made 10 appearances before returning to his parent club in the summer.
Since then, Powell has established himself as a mainstay in West Ham’s Under-23 squad, scoring six goals and assisting a further three in just 16 appearances.
However, with the appeal of first-team football lower down the English pyramid, it seems fitting that he should move on in order to realise his burgeoning potential.
In total, the attacking starlet made 64 appearances for the Irons’ U23s, contributing 27 goals and assists in the process.
Powell’s departure follows in the footsteps of fellow academy prospects Nathan Holland and Conor Coventry. They themselves joined lower league clubs in search of more regular minutes this month, albeit on loan.
