After plundering four goals and obliging every one of the countless selfie and autograph requests at the HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens on Saturday, Josh Ajala underlined his determination to convert rich promise into Premier League pedigree.

On West Ham United’s first-team bench twice this season, Ajala dampened heated speculation around his future when he signed a new two-year London Stadium contract in March.

He told the South China Morning Post that decision stemmed from “the trust West Ham showed in me and the effort they made to persuade me to stay”.

“It showed that they rated me and saw me as a big part of their future,” Ajala said.

The 19-year-old bagged a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Hong Kong, then added another as West Ham beat HKFC Captain’s Select 2-1.

A 1-0 defeat by AZ Alkmaar in their closing Group A game, where Ajala collected a yellow card, left West Ham with a daunting quarter-final against seven-times champions Aston Villa on Sunday.