http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club...-hopeful-signs-with-west-ham-academy_aid28798 Looks like Djair Parfitt is moving from San Jose Earthquakes Academy to West Ham. Born 10/01/1996, he has been in camp with the US U14s, but doesn't have citizenship yet. He's been in the US since age 7 or 8, so he should be pretty close to citizenship (depending on a lot of factors we don't know right now). Citizen of Bermuda, so he can move to the UK without a problem. He scored last week for the U18 against Stoke. “For the past two months or so, I have been playing with the U18s and also been training with the U21s,” Parfitt told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “Next season, I will be a U17, which means a ‘first year’ in the U18 team.” USSF is keeping in touch while he gets his US passport. Also shows up as Djair Parfitt-Williams on some rosters. http://www.ussoccer.com/teams/youth/us-under-14-ndp/2009-boys.aspx
Can vouch for his technical ability. I remember watching him play in 2011 with the Earthquakes Academy. I believe he was playing two years up, and was the best player on the field. Played as a two way CM back then.
"Tuesday, May 07, 2013 Bermudian Shines For West Ham United Djair Parfitt and his West Ham United teammates completed their Barclays U18 Premier League season with a hard-earned 2-0 victory at Stoke City. West Ham ended the Tier One Stage campaign with a fourth victory in five outings against Stoke City through goals either side of half-time from trialist Joe Ward and schoolboy forward Parfitt. Academy Director Tony Carr praised his young squad ... "Our second goal came from Parfitt-Williams and was another case of us up their play and winning the ball back. Parfitt picked the ball up and ran through and poked it past the goalkeeper from close range with about ten minutes remaining...." http://www.islandstats.com/sport.asp?sport=42&assoc=1&newsid=25648
Update from WHU Academy and some info on his citizenship status: http://www.whufc.com/articles/20131004/djair-making-himself-at-home_2236884_3478708 After netting three goals in four appearances for the U18s last season while still a schoolboy, the first-year scholar has netted once in six Barclays U18 Premier League appearances so far this term. Looking to the future, Parfitt-Williams is hoping to reach the top with both Club and country. While Best went on to play for Bermuda, the teenager is close to receiving his US citizenship and is targeting an international future for the Stars and Stripes. "When people ask me where I'm from, I tell them California most of the time because if I say Bermuda they start asking loads of questions about where it is! I want to play for the US soon but I don't have my citizenship yet. I am a resident there, but to play for the US you have to have your citizenship. "They have been calling me up but I've had to say 'No' because I haven't had the citizenship, but hopefully I'll get it in the next few months or something like that.
USAprospects @USAprospects17 Nov '96 #usynt Djair Parfitt-Williams nets a hat-trick in West Ham's U18 3-1 victory over Reading FC.
If I remember correctly, as long as he keeps a residence in the US and comes back at least once every 6 months he's fine. Being that he's under 18 I'd imagine the residence requirement falls to his parents. If I'm wrong, feel free to bring the hammer of pain down on me. ;P
Since he is under 18, the physical presence aspect falls on the adult(s) gaining citizenship. If his father/mother gets citizenship, he can pretty much join them and get instant citizenship. If it happens after he hits age 18, then it's more complicated and he has to qualify on his own, which does mean 2.5 years physical presence in the US in the 5 years since he gained his Green Card.
That's kind of a rule of thumb for a Green Card holder. If you are on the 5 year plan (not married to an American citizen), you need to maintain a residence in the US (not necessarily a house, but show that you plan to return with bank accounts, paying US taxes) AND you need to have 2.5 years of physical presence in the US during your 5 years. You don't have to return every 6 months, but you do have to get permission if you are going to be gone longer than 1 year. Some Green Card holders have no immediate plans for citizenship and will bounce back and forth between countries, so they have to work harder to prove that they aren't abandoning residency in the US.
Someone in the Lletget thread mentioned that West Ham will be fielding an u21 team for their upcoming FA match. I'm sure there's a close to 0% chance he makes an appearance, but just thought I'd mention it because he made the bench in the last u21 game
Brace vs. Leicester City U18s 3/17- http://www.whufc.com/articles/20140317/djair-at-the-double-for-u18s_2236884_3717774
USAprospects @USAprospects · Jul 25 Sebi Lletgett isn't the only impressive #usynt at West Ham. Hearing that '96 Djair Parfitt-Williams is showing well with Hammers U21s @CreightonMCFCjoey can you confirm Djair Parfitt-Williams is now eligible for USYNT?
General note on the Hammers : the English tabs are purporting a major riff between the club owners - mainly David Gold - and Sam Allardyce (often referred to as BFS on the various social media sites) over the Andy Carroll transfer. They speculate that the gaffer will be given through October - while Carroll is out injured, mind you - to keep up with the league. Should WHU struggle, Allardyce will likely be fired. His contract is up by the end of the season anyway. The betting services have David Moyes as the most likely replacement.
That would probably be good news for Seb Lletget. I think (hope) a different manager would give Seb the opportunity to show whether or not he's got what it takes to play first team football at West Ham. Of course that's under the assumption they don't go out and hire another hoofball type. If that's the plan I don't see his status changing much, if at all.
Played today for the U18s against Southampton. http://www.whufc.com/articles/20140920/u18s-come-back-to-down-saints_2236884_4159816 @Friedel'sAccent -- He's due for a move to the YA Academy.
West Ham United U18 Parfitt-Williams went 90' in 0-0 draw versus Arsenal http://t.co/nRjJ4KUlvf— Dallas Cup ⚽️ (@dallascup) October 12, 2014 Let's move this gentleman to the YA Academy @bungadiri @Friedel'sAccent
So Parfitt-Williams: Scored again yesterday in a 4-2 win over West Brom: http://bernews.com/2014/11/parfitt-williams-scores-west-ham-win/
It would be nice to get some more information on Parfitt's citizenship status. If he doesn't have his citizenship yet he has to go it alone since he turned 18 in October. That will be a much more complicated process with him out of the country most of the year. On the other hand, if he does have it, then why hasn't he been called up by the U-20's yet?