Full name Reece Joel Oxford Role Footballer Number 35 Height 1.90 m | 0000–2011 Tottenham Hotspur Weight 71 kg Name Reece Oxford | |
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Date of birth (1998-12-16) 16 December 1998 (age 17) Place of birth Edmonton, London, England Playing position Current team West Ham United F.C. (#35 / Defender, Midfielder) Profiles | ||
Reece Oxford Perhaps?
Reece Joel Oxford (born 16 December 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Borussia Mönchengladbach on loan from Premier League club West Ham United. Oxford made his debut for West Ham aged 16 years and 198 days, making him the club's youngest ever player, beating a record of 16 years and 221 days set in 1922 by Billy Williams.
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Club career
Oxford was born in Edmonton, London, and was a boyhood supporter of Arsenal. He began playing football at Tottenham Hotspur's academy but was released in 2011 after a short trial. He then joined West Ham United at under-13 level.
On 11 January 2015, Oxford signed a long-term professional contract with West Ham. Four months later, he won the Dylan Tombides Academy Player of the Year Award.
Oxford made his competitive, first team debut on 2 July 2015, aged 16, starting in midfield in a 3–0 win against Andorran club Lusitanos in a UEFA Europa League first qualifying round first leg tie. In so doing, he became West Ham's youngest ever player. He then made his Premier League debut on 9 August, playing the first 79 minutes before being substituted for Kevin Nolan as West Ham won 2–0 away to Arsenal. Following his start, Oxford became the second-youngest Premier League starter of all-time, after Jose Baxter.
Ahead of the 2016–17 season, Oxford was named in The Daily Telegraph's list of the best youth prospects in English football. On his 18th birthday, 16 December 2016, Oxford signed a new, four-and-a-half year contract with West Ham. Just over one month later, he was sent on loan to Reading for the remainder of the season. He made his Reading debut on 11 March 2017 in a 3–0 away defeat to Preston North End, coming on as a second-half substitute for Paul McShane. He made five appearances, his final match being the 8 April away defeat to Norwich City, 7–1.
On 21 June 2017, Oxford was sent on loan to German Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach for the 2017–18 season.
International career
Oxford has played for England up to under-20 level and captained his country at the 2015 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. The team reached the quarter-finals, and Oxford scored in the penalty shootout as they defeated Spain in a play-off for the 2015 U-17 World Cup. West Ham refused permission for him to play in the final tournament in Chile, fearing that exposure to an international football tournament would lead to burnout.
Style of play
Uefa.com described his playing style as, "Tall and quick, he is not daunted in the face of illustrious opponents." On several occasions, Oxford has been compared to former West Ham academy graduate Rio Ferdinand.