West Ham United have signed former Chelmsford City forward Jett Murphy on a two-year deal, giving the lifelong Hammers supporter and his family a moment he described as a dream come true.
The 18-year-old will officially join on 1 July and is set to link up with the Under-21 development squad for pre-season after earning his move during a trial spell at Rush Green.
Murphy’s arrival is not just another academy addition. West Ham said the young forward is a lifelong supporter, while Murphy called the move “a lifetime dream” for both himself and his family because they are all Hammers fans in the club’s official announcement.
Murphy earns West Ham step after senior Chelmsford season
Chelmsford confirmed Murphy’s departure on Tuesday, detailing a rapid rise from their academy into senior National League South football. He made 27 appearances in all competitions last season, scored 10 goals, and had already become one of the club’s most exciting young attacking prospects.
His West Ham trial also carried a clear football case. Murphy scored twice for the U18s against Norwich City in May, doing enough to secure a professional pathway in east London rather than simply being taken on as a speculative academy body.
For West Ham, the deal adds a locally rooted forward with senior minutes, non-league resilience and emotional investment in the shirt. For Murphy, it is the rare kind of signing that lands on both fronts: a professional breakthrough and a family celebration years in the making.
