Ravel Morrison will quit England when his West Ham United contract expires, after agreeing to join Italian side Lazio next season.
The midfielder was once regarded as one of the best talents in the country by Sir Alex Ferguson, although he never made the grade during a three-year association with Manchester United. After leaving Old Trafford for West Ham United in 2012, Morrison went on to gain first team action during loan spells at Birmingham City, Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City.
However, the 21-year-old has never managed to establish himself at Upton Park having played just 18 times in the Premier League for the capital club. The highlight of his time at the club thus far undoubtedly came in October 2013, when he scored a brilliant individual goal in the 3-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur which Sam Allardyce went on to label as genius.
It was hoped that such an effort would finally see Morrison live up to his early reputation, but he has scored just once more for the Hammers, in a 3-1 defeat at Norwich City last season. And with his contract at Upton Park set to expire at the end of a campaign in which he has made just one substitute appearance in the Premier League, he has decided to move elsewhere.
West Ham were prepared to let him leave this month for a nominal fee, but it is believed the player will instead see out the remaining six months of his deal before signing a lucrative contract with Lazio. It has been widely reported that he has already agreed a deal to link up with the Serie A side at the start of the 2015/16 season, although he has yet to formally sign a contract.
