Key Points
- England U19 international midfielder Sienna Wareing has signed her first professional contract with West Ham United Women.
- The 18-year-old joins the Hammers on a three-year deal running until the summer of 2029 following her departure from Manchester United.
- Wareing spent seven years in the Manchester United youth ranks and was named the Academy U21 Player of the Year for the 2025/26 season.
- She becomes West Ham United’s fifth signing of the summer transfer window ahead of the 2026/27 Barclays Women’s Super League campaign and will wear the number 19 shirt.
- Head Coach Rita Guarino cited Wareing’s creativity and long-term potential in the final third as key factors behind the transfer.
West Ham United (East London Times) July 8, 2026 – Women have completed the signing of England U19 international midfielder Sienna Wareing on a long-term contract following the expiration of her terms with Barclays Women’s Super League rivals Manchester United, the club announced officially on July 8, 2026. The 18-year-old prospect was accompanied by her family in east London as she finalised her first professional contract, committing her future to the Hammers until June 2029. Wareing arrives at the club as a highly-rated youth prospect, fresh from winning individual accolades within Manchester United’s academy structure during the 2025/26 campaign.
As reported by the club’s official media team, Wareing will wear the number 19 shirt for the upcoming season, becoming the fifth senior acquisition made by Head Coach Rita Guarino during the current summer transfer window.
The midfielder moves to east London with immediate effect and is scheduled to join her new teammates for the commencement of pre-season training ahead of the 2026/27 domestic campaign.
What did Sienna Wareing and Rita Guarino say about the move?
In her first official statement following the announcement, Sienna Wareing expressed her enthusiasm regarding the transition to east London and highlighted the influence of the technical staff during negotiations. As reported by West Ham United club media, Wareing stated:
“I’m absolutely delighted to sign for West Ham United. The conversations I had with Rita and the staff really made me feel welcome and I can’t wait to carry on my development here. Signing my first professional contract is such a proud moment for me and my family. I’m excited to get started when we return for pre-season and to meet all of my new teammates.”
West Ham United Women Head Coach Rita Guarino welcomed the addition of the teenage midfielder, emphasizing her attacking attributes and international pedigree. As reported by club media, Guarino stated:
“We’re really pleased to welcome Sienna to the Club. Sienna is a player that we believe has a lot of potential. She is a creative midfielder who can make things happen in the final third. She has recently made her debut for England U19s and I’m sure that she will continue to progress here in east London in a West Ham shirt in years to come.”
What is Sienna Wareing’s footballing background and career history?
Wareing’s development into a professional athlete began at grassroots level at the age of seven, when she initially played for her local boys’ team, Mill Hill Juniors.
She subsequently transitioned to the academy structure at Blackburn Rovers, where she spent three seasons developing her technical baseline before securing a successful trial with Manchester United.
Wareing remained embedded within the Manchester United youth system for seven years, steadily progressing through the various age-group ranks. Her development culminated in a prominent role within their Under-21 setup.
During the latter half of the 2025/26 season, Wareing gained valuable senior competitive experience by completing a short-term spell with Liverpool Feds under a dual-registration agreement, featuring six times in the third tier of English women’s football.
How did Wareing perform during the 2025/26 season?
The 2025/26 campaign proved to be a breakthrough year for the young midfielder on both the domestic and international stages. Wareing was a central figure in Manchester United’s success in the Professional Game Academy Plate tournament.
In the showpiece final against Durham, she delivered a Player of the Match performance and scored the decisive winning goal to secure the silverware for her side.
Her consistent performances at club level resulted in her being named Manchester United’s Academy U21 Player of the Year.
This domestic form was subsequently rewarded internationally in April 2026, when she received her inaugural call-up to the Young Lionesses squad.
Wareing went on to earn three international caps for the England U19 national team during their 2026 UEFA Women’s U19 European Championship qualification fixtures.
Background of the particular development
The signing of Sienna Wareing aligns with an ongoing strategic shift across the Barclays Women’s Super League, where top-tier clubs are placing an increasing premium on securing elite domestic academy talent on long-term professional contracts.
For West Ham United, the acquisition reflects a targeted recruitment policy under Rita Guarino, designed to lower the average age of the squad while building technical depth in central areas.
West Ham have historically sought to balance experienced international figures with emerging British talent to remain competitive in the WSL.
Wareing’s departure from Manchester United underlines the intense competition for elite youth players within the Professional Game Academy network, where path-to-first-team opportunities often dictate whether a player chooses to sign their first professional contract or seek opportunities elsewhere in the division.
Prediction
This development is expected to have a multi-faceted impact on West Ham United’s core audience, specifically the club’s supporters and its technical staff.
For the fans, the addition of a technically gifted, creative midfielder provides a renewed sense of long-term optimism, signaling that the club is actively building a sustainable core capable of progressing over the next three seasons.
If Wareing successfully translates her youth-level final-third productivity into the senior game, supporters can expect a more dynamic and possession-oriented midfield unit during the 2026/27 campaign.
For the existing squad, Wareing’s arrival intensifies internal competition for starting positions in central midfield, pushing established players to maintain high performance standards during pre-season.
Furthermore, because she is tied to the club until 2029, this transfer insulates the club against mid-season depth crises and establishes Wareing as a foundational asset around whom Guarino can execute her long-term tactical vision.
