West Ham United's goalkeeper coach Xavi Valero is confident Ghanaian youngster Joseph Anang has the attributes and attitude to forge a successful career for himself at the senior level.
The 20-year-old has signed a new three-year deal with the Hammers after successful negotiations.
Anang has been first choice for the U23s for the past two years, helping the Hammers win the Premier League 2 Division 2 title last season and appearing regularly in the EFL Trophy.
The new contract will enable him to continue working under the expert tutelage of first-team goalkeeper coach Xavi Valero and alongside the experienced Łukasz Fabiański, Darren Randolph and David Martin.
"I think we have a very good setup of goalkeepers in the Academy, with a very good group at different ages who can progress at a different pace, so I think we are securing a good progression for West Ham," the Spaniard, who has worked with some of the world’s best stoppers at Valencia, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Napoli and Real Madrid told whufc.com.
"The fact that Joseph is signing a new contract is very good news. He is a young goalkeeper, he is a strong goalkeeper, has a good mentality, has been working really hard and has improved his game a lot in the last couple of seasons.
"He has got a good presence and the physicality to play the game in this country. He is a pro-active goalkeeper who fills the space between the goal and his back four, he is very good with both feet and is a goalkeeper who can tick all the boxes of the modern demands of the game.
"He has made his debut for England U20s and has just returned from a training camp at St George’s Park, where he was selected as one of the four best goalkeepers of his age, so I am very happy for him and for his family and this has to be a stepping stone for the next level."