Lewis Orford (footballer)

Lewis Orford (born 18 February 2006) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder club West Ham United. He is an England youth international.

Club career
Orford joined the academy system at West Ham United at five years old. He worked through the age groups and began playing for the U18s under Kevin Keen during the 2021-22 season. He signed Scholarship terms with West Ham in June 2022. Orford signed his first professional contract with West Ham shortly after his seventeenth birthday in February 2023.

He was included in a West Ham first team match day squad for the first time in November 2022, being an unused substitute as West Ham beat FCSB 3-0 in the UEFA Europa Conference League. That season he was part of the West Ham U18 side that won the final of the FA Youth Cup defeating Arsenal 5–1 at the Emirates Stadium in April 2023.

He was promoted to the West Ham U21 side for the 2023-24 season, despite still being only 17 years old. He scored two goals and was credited four assists from his first ten games in the Premier League 2 and EFL Trophy. He was called up to first-team training in November 2023. He subsequently travelled with the first-team squad for a UEFA Europa League fixture against Serbian side FK TSC on 30 November 2023.

International career
In May 2024, he was called-up to the England national under-18 football team. After winning the U18 Pinatar Super Cup in March 2024, Orford went on to captain the side to another trophy with a 2-1 win over Morocco to lift the U18 Tri-Nations Trophy.

Style of play
Orford has been compared with former Republic of Ireland international footballer, and current England International Declan Rice. He was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best first-year scholars in the Premier League in September 2022 with John Brewin drawing a comparison with Frank Lampard “in his ability to arrive late on the scene for scoring opportunities.”

Personal life
His father Mark Orford is a systems support engineer from Upminster. Lewis played for Upminster Park Rovers prior to signing with West Ham Juniors.

Honours
West Ham United U18
 * FA Youth Cup: 2022–23
 * U18 Premier League South: 2023

England U18s
 * 2024 U18 Pinatar Super Cup
 * 2024 U18 Tri-Nations Trophy