FC Utrecht has transferred 18-year-old left-back Emeka Adiele from West Ham United. The signing is intended as preparation for the future departure of Souffian El Karouani. Adiele signed a contract until the summer of 2030 with technical director Jordy Zuidam present. FC Utrecht bought out his previous contract at West Ham, which was valid until 2026. Fabrizio Romano was the first to report advanced interest on Monday evening, and a deal was confirmed slightly more than an hour later. The club had competition from many teams in England and from other countries, but Adiele reportedly chose Utrecht because of the club's plans and the extent of their interest in him. The player is not immediately available because his work permit still needs to be arranged. Adiele, who holds both English and Nigerian citizenship, has been capped 6 times by the England U18 team. In the 2025/2026 season, he made 10 appearances in the Premier League 2, scoring 2 goals and providing 6 assists.