West Ham United sign England youth international Niamh Peacock
West Ham United have announced the signing of Niamh Peacock after the England Under-20 international was released by Arsenal this summer.
Peacock, 18, spent most of her formative years at Arsenal, joining the club at the under-9 level following a two-year stint with Chelsea.
She began playing football at age four and later joined her local boys’ team, Isleworthians, where she frequently served as the only girl on the pitch.
Reflecting on her time at Arsenal, Peacock noted that she spent “half of my life” at the club. She departs after serving as captain for both academy sides and England youth teams.
While she began her career as a central midfielder, Peacock transitioned into a central defender role. She now plays primarily on the left side, identifying as a natural leader and a “forward-looking” player who excels at organizing the back line and delivering progressive passes.
Leah Williamson has served as a major inspiration for Peacock, providing a blueprint for success through their shared position, academy background, and leadership qualities.
“I’m delighted to join West Ham United,” said Peacock, who will wear the No26 shirt. “This is a big Club, with big ambitions and a passionate fanbase. I felt that coming here was the best fit for me at this moment in my career.”
She added, “Signing my first professional contract is a proud moment for me and my family. I can’t wait to develop my game and become a better player and person.”
Describing her journey into professional football, Peacock said: “I was at Arsenal for 10 years, but before that I started playing football at the age of four, playing with my Dad and brother in the cages. I then went to a grassroots team, joined Chelsea at seven and then moved to Arsenal at nine. I feel the lessons and opportunities I’ve had have helped me to get to this point, so hopefully I can continue that.”
Last season, Peacock gained senior experience during spells with Watford and Portsmouth, making seven appearances in WSL 2 for the latter.
Discussing her development, she said: “It was a great opportunity at both clubs to get first-team experience. Especially at Portsmouth, as Jay Sadler gave me an opportunity to make my debut in the WSL 2 at 17, which I’ll be forever grateful for because it taught me a lot, which hopefully I can continue here.”
Peacock remains committed to the England youth setup. Regarding her international future and the move to West Ham, she remarked: “Definitely! It’s such an honour to play for England. From the age of 15 until now, every time you put on the shirt it’s such an honour, and hopefully I can continue that here.”
Addressing her leadership style, Peacock noted: “Growing up in Arsenal’s Academy, I captained a lot of the age groups, and that taught me a lot about maturity and being a role model. Taking that into a senior environment, it was difficult to adapt to but I feel like with my leadership skills I was able to reinstate myself there.”
Regarding her on-field attributes, she added: “I’m a forward-thinking player. I like to break lines and dominate the ball from the back, but also be dominant in the air in both boxes. I like to put my body on the line for the team and give whatever I can.”
On her inspirations, she concluded: “I feel like a lot of the Lionesses centre-backs, Leah Williamson for instance. Playing with her at Arsenal was a dream come true, and I hope I can use some of their game in my game.”