Airidas Golambeckis is a centre-back who joined West Ham United's Academy of Football at the age of five, having been spotted playing at the Club's Foundation hub in Beckton.

Born in east London to Lithuanian parents, Golambeckis signed his scholarship in the summer of 2024, then his first professional contract in November of the same year. He impressed for the U18s and U21s before making his first-team debut in a Carabao Cup win at Southampton in August 2026, aged 18 years and nine months.

Capped by Lithuania at U16 level, the defender switched international allegiance to England and has been capped at U18 and U19 levels.

Career

2026/27

Made his West Ham United first-team debut in a Carabao Cup win at Southampton on 25 August 2026, aged 18 years and nine months...Made his league debut in the 1-1 EFL Championship draw at Watford on 29 August 2026.

2025/26

Named in the Premier League matchday squad for the first time for the 3-2 home win over Burnley on 8 November 2025...Named in further Premier League matchday squads against Fulham, Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers across the New Year period, and FA Cup matchday squads against Queens Park Rangers and Leeds United...Captained the U21s in EFL Trophy wins over MK Dons and Swindon Town and the round of 16 defeat at AFC Wimbledon...Captained the U21s in all 12 Premier League 2 appearances he made, including play-off ties against Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion...Started FA Youth Cup ties against Preston North End and Everton...Captained the team to the National League Cup final, scoring in the group-stage win at Aldershot Town and skippering the side in the final defeat at Boreham Wood...Totaled 22 appearances for the U18s and U21s...Made his England U19s debut in a 2-0 friendly win over Ukraine on 3 September 2025.

2024/25

Scored his first U18 Premier League South goal in a 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion U18s on 24 August 2024...Scored U18 Premier League South goals in a 2-2 draw at West Bromwich Albion in September 2024 and in a 4-2 home win over Tottenham Hotspur in October 2024...Started the 2025 U18 Premier League Cup final win over Reading in April 2025...Totaled 12 U18 Premier League South starts...Made his Premier League International Cup debut in a 2-2 draw with Benfica on 24 September 2024...Started the FA Youth Cup third-round defeat at Grimsby Town on 6 December 2024...Made appearances in all four National League Cup Group D ties at Braintree Town, Sutton United, Ebbsfleet United and Dagenham & Redbridge...Made nine Premier League 2 appearances, five of them starts...Started the Premier League 2 play-off round of 16 win over Sunderland and quarter-final defeat at Manchester United in spring 2025...Totaled 27 appearances for the U18s and U21s...Made his England U18s debut in a 1-1 friendly draw with Switzerland on 6 September 2024.

2023/24

Made 12 U18 Premier League South appearances, eleven of them starts...Started the FA Youth Cup third-round win over Southampton in December 2023 and fourth-round defeat by Manchester City in January 2024...Made his Premier League 2 debut in a 2-0 win at Norwich City on 12 April 2024, aged 16 years and five months...Appeared as a substitute in the Premier League 2 play-off round of 16 win over Blackburn Rovers on 3 May 2024.

Early Career

Born in east London to Lithuanian parents on 4 November 2007...Played for Sunday League club East Ham Rovers...Scouted while playing at West Ham United Foundation in Beckton at the age of five...Worked his way up through the age-groups at the Academy of Football.

Honours

Club Honours

U18 Premier League Cup (2025)

Individual Honours

West Ham United Premier League Scholar of the Year (2025/26)