West Ham United senior loans manager Kevin Keen believes Rayan Oyebade’s move to Southend United represents the ideal next step in the defender’s development.
The 19-year-old has joined the National League club on loan for the full 2026/27 season. It will be his first sustained experience of senior football away from West Ham.
Keen has outlined the thinking behind the move and highlighted the qualities Oyebade can bring to Southend. His assessment was shared by Southend Echo reporter Chris Phillips, who spoke to the West Ham loans manager about the defender.
Oyebade is a left-footed centre-back who can also operate at left-back. He has developed through the Academy of Football and signed a new West Ham contract until the summer of 2028 in February.
Oyebade handed senior development opportunity
West Ham confirmed the season-long loan earlier this month, with Oyebade moving into Kevin Maher’s Southend squad ahead of their new National League campaign.
The defender has represented Greece at Under-19 level and has featured regularly across West Ham’s academy sides. However, the physical demands and pressure of senior football will provide a different stage in his development.
As Read West Ham reported when the move was completed, the loan gives Oyebade an opportunity to compete for regular minutes rather than remaining solely within Under-21 football.
Southend will expect to compete near the top of the National League after narrowly missing promotion last season. That should expose Oyebade to meaningful matches and the demands of playing for a club with clear promotion ambitions.
Keen’s comments underline West Ham’s confidence in both the player and the destination. The club will now monitor his progress throughout the season as he attempts to take another step towards first-team football.
