# Josh Landers
**Josh Landers** (born 2007) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a forward for West Ham United, on loan at Ayr United in the [Scottish Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/scottish-championship).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2007, Innerleithen, Scotland[1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/josh-landers/transfers/spieler/1049888) |
| Position | Forward (striker)[2](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/1538232/josh-landers) |
| Club | West Ham United, signed 30 January 2025 from Hibernian[3](https://www.whufc.com/en/teams/under-21/josh-landers) |
| Senior debut | Scottish League Cup semi-final against Aberdeen at Hampden Park, November 2023, aged 16[3](https://www.whufc.com/en/teams/under-21/josh-landers) |
| Honours | U18 Premier League Cup with West Ham (2024/25); National League Cup runner-up (2025/26)[3](https://www.whufc.com/en/teams/under-21/josh-landers) |
| International | Scotland U16s, U18s, and U19s[3](https://www.whufc.com/en/teams/under-21/josh-landers) |
| 2026/27 loan | Ayr United, Scottish Championship: 4 appearances, 1 goal, 181 minutes[2](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/1538232/josh-landers) |
## Early career at Hibernian
Landers came through the academy of Hibernian, a [Scottish Premiership](https://www.edgepedia.org/scottish-premiership) club, and signed his first professional contract with them in the summer of 2023 at age 16[3](https://www.whufc.com/en/teams/under-21/josh-landers). He had been playing above his age group for years: he made his debut for Hibernian's U18 side at 14 and appeared in the [UEFA Youth League](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-youth-league) at 15[3](https://www.whufc.com/en/teams/under-21/josh-landers).
His senior debut came in November 2023, in the [Scottish League Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/scottish-league-cup) semi-final against Aberdeen at [Hampden Park](https://www.edgepedia.org/hampden-park)[3](https://www.whufc.com/en/teams/under-21/josh-landers). He made two substitute appearances in the 2023/24 [Premiership](https://www.edgepedia.org/premiership) season, totaling 10 minutes[4](https://fbref.com/en/players/8074bc2f/Josh-Landers).
## Move to West Ham United
In January 2025, after a successful trial period with West Ham United's U21 side, Landers joined the Hammers from Hibernian[3](https://www.whufc.com/en/teams/under-21/josh-landers). West Ham describe him as an energetic modern striker who can hold up play and also run in behind[3](https://www.whufc.com/en/teams/under-21/josh-landers).
He made an immediate impact at youth level. Despite joining mid-season, he finished his first year in double figures, scoring nine goals in the U18 Premier League South and one in the Premier League Cup, which West Ham's young side won with a 2-1 final victory over Reading[3](https://www.whufc.com/en/teams/under-21/josh-landers).
In 2025/26 he stepped up to U21 football. His first goals at that level came in his first Premier League 2 start, a brace in a 4-2 away win at [Sunderland](https://www.edgepedia.org/sunderland) in August 2025[3](https://www.whufc.com/en/teams/under-21/josh-landers). In cup competitions he scored and assisted in a 3-2 win over Swindon Town that helped West Ham's U21s reach the [EFL Trophy](https://www.edgepedia.org/efl-trophy) knockout stages as the only academy side, and he scored in the final of the National League Cup against Boreham Wood, which West Ham lost on penalties[3](https://www.whufc.com/en/teams/under-21/josh-landers).
## Loans to Boreham Wood and Ayr United
Landers finished the 2025/26 season on loan at Boreham Wood of the [National League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-league), from 27 March to 1 June 2026, making one league start plus four substitute appearances with one league goal[5](https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=181387). Boreham Wood, managed by Luke Garrard, lost the National League play-off final at Wembley on penalties[3](https://www.whufc.com/en/teams/under-21/josh-landers).
For the 2026/27 season he joined Ayr United in the Scottish Championship on loan until 30 June 2027[2](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/1538232/josh-landers). Through late September 2026 he had made four league appearances, scoring once in a 2-0 win away at Queen's Park on 18 September 2026[2](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/1538232/josh-landers).
## International career
Landers has represented Scotland at U16, U18, and U19 levels[3](https://www.whufc.com/en/teams/under-21/josh-landers).
## References
1. [Josh Landers - Transfer history, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/josh-landers/transfers/spieler/1049888)
2. [Josh Landers - stats, career and market value, FotMob](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/1538232/josh-landers)
3. [Josh Landers - Men's U21s, West Ham United FC](https://www.whufc.com/en/teams/under-21/josh-landers)
4. [Josh Landers Stats, FBref.com](https://fbref.com/en/players/8074bc2f/Josh-Landers)
5. [Josh Landers | Football Stats, Soccer Base](https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=181387)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of the British Isles (modern era) › Scottish footballers › Surnames K to W*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license