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The 22-year-old wasn’t involved in West Ham’s draw to FC Magdeburg, their final pre-season test ahead of opening their competitive campaign against Portsmouth on Saturday, with Potts expected to complete his medical in the coming days. The move has emerged as an unexpected development, with the youngster expected to play a crucial role in the heart of midfield this term as the Hammers go in search of an immediate return to the Premier League. However, he is set to swap the Championship for the UEFA Champions League with the Belgian champions earmarking Potts as the heir to the throne of departing Raphael Onyedika. EFL loans turn boy into a man The Barking-born midfielder joined West Ham’s academy aged six and progressed up the age groups, penning his first professional contract in the summer of 2021. He got his first taste of men’s first-team football on loan at Wycombe Wanderers of Sky Bet League One during the 2023/24 season. Potts made a mark at Adams Park, orchestrating their ninth-placed finish with maturity beyond his years in midfield, drawing comparisons to fellow West Ham academy graduate Declan Rice. His standout breakthrough campaign, in which he made 36 league appearances as a defensive midfielder, was recognised by Wycombe as he collected both the Young Player of the Year and Supporters' Player of the Year. Another loan stint followed to gain further minutes under his belt, making the step up to Portsmouth in the Championship. Potts’ impact was identical to that of Wycombe, firmly establishing himself as a fan favourite as a regular for John Mousinho’s side. Making the step-up Such impressive spells in the Football League, where Potts was able to hone his craft, meant he was thrust into the first-team set-up last term. Despite only being on the fringes at the start of the campaign as the Hammers were embroiled in a relegation dogfight, Potts made his first start in a dominant victory over Newcastle United in November. Son of former West Ham legend and current coach Steve, the midfielder was a breath of fresh air in a lacklustre side as he gained the trust of Nuno Espirito Santo, who often paired him with new Tottenham Hotspur signing Mateus Fernandes. The West Ham faithful are always receptive to seeing an academy graduate establish themselves in the first team, and Potts was no exception, yet his inexperience at the level occasionally shone through as he was dropped for the final five games of the season. North-west Belgium awaits Nonetheless, relegation was viewed as the ideal opportunity for West Ham to rebuild in a team with Potts at the heart of the midfield. The departure of Fernandes was expected given his ever-improving displays in a relegated side, with Potts expected to replace him as the main man and has been involved in their pre-season games. English youngsters moving abroad have borne fruit on so many occasions, from Jadon Sancho to Jarell Quansah to Jude Bellingham, and Potts will hope to emulate a similar path for the 20-time Belgian champions, who kickstart their season against Kortrijk on Friday. As for West Ham, it isn’t the first time they have sold an exciting prodigy tipped to become a first-team star, most notably Grady Diangana’s departure in 2020. The Hammers now have a gaping hole to fill in the middle of the park with two midfield departures this summer and Tomas Soucek’s injury, but have only brought in Keiber Lamadrid for a minimal fee.