“Stevenage are a big club in League Two with… great fans”; Joseph Anang with the words that made sure that we’d warm to him from the very start. The young West Ham United goalkeeper joined Boro’ on loan in summer 2021. And it says much about how well his predecessor, Jamie Cumming, fared here on loan during the 2020-1 season. Inspired by the Chelsea stopper’s time, the club clearly felt comfortable enough to go for the full-season loan arrangement again.

Like Cumming, Anang arrived with a huge amount of promise and potential. He’d already seen his stock rise a lot at the Hammers; learning his trade with the first team squad as early as 18-years-old. For his parent club, the stopper is described as a “jovial character with rapid reflexes and admirable agility” – and that all sounds gravy to us. Anang impressed in the early stages of the 2021-2 campaign, gaining a small reputation for keeping penalties out. But his time with us came to an end in January 2022 as the Hammers called him back.

Joseph Anang: Before Boro’

After helping the Hammers to the 2019-20 Premier League 2 Division 2 title, that next step is now – and with us. On joining the club, Anang said: “Stevenage’s style of play is something that attracted me to the Club. I learnt a lot last season in the Premier League 2, and now I am looking forward to learning more in League Two. The gaffer has told me what he expects from me, and that he has put his faith in me.”