19-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
UK visa rules blocked Hong Kong footballer's West Ham trial. Now Japan beckons
Hong Kong Football Club's teenaged goalkeeper James Wright has said the weekend's HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens provided a rare gateway for local talent to play at an elite level overseas.
Following a string of impressive displays in last year's tournament, Wright was invited for a trial with West Ham United, the club he supports.
That opportunity fell through after Wright arrived in England, because despite owning a British passport, he counted as a foreigner under Fifa rules and West Ham opted against giving a triallist one of its quota of slots for those not meeting UK work permit criteria.
A week-long stint with Charlton Athletic was arranged instead, with Wright not offered a deal but told he was welcome to train in future with this season's League One play-off finalists.
Soon after playing in this year's Sevens, 17-year-old Wright was poised to jet to Japan for a four-day tryout with Kamatamare Sanuki, set up by former Hong Kong international Au Yeung Yiu-chung, who used to play for the J3 League team.
James Wright plays for HKFC Captain's Select at the Soccer Sevens. Photo: HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens
'This tournament gives young players like me exposure to big clubs like Aston Villa and West Ham, and I had the contact from West Ham after last year,' Wright said.
