Dan Potts

Daniel Potts (born 13 April 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back or centre-back. He played for the United States U20 team and the England U18, U19 and U20 teams. Born in Barking, Greater London, Potts joined West Ham United aged nine and signed as a scholar in May 2010. He made his reserve team debut away to Wolverhampton Wanderers on 27 April 2011, and his senior debut at home on 17 December 2011, in a 1–0 victory over Barnsley, just a day after signing a professional contract with the club. He received the Young Hammer of the Year award in May 2012 after making four appearances in the 2011–12 season during which West Ham were promoted back to the Premier League after a 2–1 win over Blackpool in the 2012 Football League Championship play-off Final at Wembley Stadium. On 22 November 2012, Potts joined League One club Colchester United on loan until 22 December 2012. On the following day, he made his debut for the club in a 5–1 away defeat to Milton Keynes Dons. His loan was extended on 21 December 2012 for a further month. On 3 January 2013, Potts was recalled from his loan by West Ham. Two days later, he made a starting appearance in a 2–2 draw with Manchester United in the FA Cup third round. Potts made his full Premier League debut in a 3–0 away defeat to Sunderland on 12 January 2013, during which he made an error that led to the second goal. In the FA Cup third-round replay, he once again made a starting appearance as West Ham were knocked out of the competition, after they suffered a 1–0 away defeat. Potts came on as a 62nd-minute substitute for Jack Collison in a 5–1 away defeat to Arsenal on 23 January 2013, but later sustained concussion in the 82nd-minute, after a clash of heads with Bacary Sagna. He was released from hospital the next day, but didn't make any further appearances during the season. On 20 November 2013, Potts joined League Two club Portsmouth on a month-long loan. He made his debut in a 2–1 defeat at Fratton Park against Scunthorpe United. He returned to West Ham in December 2013 after making five appearances for Portsmouth. During the 2014–15 season, Potts made one appearance for West Ham in a 1–1 draw with Sheffield United on 27 August 2014 in the League Cup second round, eventually losing 5–4 on penalties after a penalty shootout. He was released by West Ham at the end of the season after 12 years with the club.