Sunderland completed the signing of defender Aji Alese on Friday on a three-year deal from West Ham United – get to know more about our newest recruit…
- Alese was born on 17 January 2001 in Islington, North London, and was raised in Romford. He turned 21 earlier this year.
- A centre-half by trade, Alese stands at 6’4’’ and boasts a strong left foot, an attribute which has also led to him operating at left-back on occasion.
- He signed his first professional contract with West Ham United in July 2018, and experienced his first loan spell in 2019-20 with Accrington Stanley, where he played 15 times in all competitions.
- Alese made his senior debut for West Ham in September 2020, a 5-1 cup victory over Hull City. He then went on loan to Cambridge United in 2021 to earn more senior experience.
- The defender had a productive 2021-22 campaign, during which he played 23 matches in the Premier League 2 for the Hammers’ Under-23 side. He kept seven clean sheets last campaign and scored twice, as West Ham finished second in the PL2 Division 1 table.
- Alese made a further appearance for the East London side’s first team last season, his European bow as he played the full 90 minutes in their UEFA Europa League contest with Dinamo Zagreb of Croatia at the London Stadium. He would be named on the substitutes’ bench 23 times throughout last term, 11 of those in the Premier League and eight in Europe.
- Like several of his new Sunderland teammates, the defender has represented England at youth level with a number of age groups. Alese has played at every level between Under-16 and Under-20, and was part of the Three Lions squad to reach the semi-finals of the U17 European Championships on home soil in 2018.
- Born and raised in the capital, Alese also holds Nigerian heritage and is thus eligible to represent Nigeria at senior international level alongside England.
- Former coaches of the towering centre-back have particularly commended his ability on the ball, aerial dominance and capability defending one-on-one.
- Alese has already gathered pre-season sharpness under his belt, having played earlier this week in the Hammers’ 2-1 win at Ipswich Town.