A skilful right winger who made his U18s debut in a 4-1 win over Reading in April 2021, Gideon Kodua has been with the Academy of Football since 2017 after being scouted playing for Newham District.

The versatile attacker’s fine form continued into the 2022/23 season as Kodua captained the U18s to 27 wins in 32 matches played throughout the campaign; a run of form that saw the side claim top spot in the U18 Premier League South and lift the FA Youth Cup for the fourth time in West Ham history.

After a period of fine form, Kodua was rewarded with a debut for Mark Robson’s development side in a Premier League International Cup fixture at home to PSV in October, before making his Premier League 2 debut in a 2-2 draw away to Blackburn Rovers.

Kodua’s efforts in the 2022/23 season were rewarded with the attacker’s first professional deal, which he signed at the Club’s iconic Chadwell Heath training facility. He was also voted as the outstanding scholar and was awarded the Dylan Tombides Award.

Kodua spent the second half of the 2023/24 season on loan at League One side Wycombe Wanderers where he was named in the starting eleven four times before finishing off the campaign with Mark Robson's U21s, scoring in the Hammers' Premier League 2 quarter final tie against Sunderland.