Glenn Roeder offered Ferdinand junior a professional contract at the age of 17, the same week in which his older brother completed his £30million move to Manchester United

After seeing huge improvements in his game over the previous six months, Roeder felt it was time for Anton to make the step up to professional level and rewarded him with a three-year deal. 

Ferdinand is another product of West Ham's youth academy and can play centre-back or right-back. He broke into the team following their relegation from the top flight and established himself under Alan Pardew in 2004/05.