An eighteen-year-old academy graduate signed his first professional contract this week, becoming the club’s youngest player to make the step up to the senior squad in more than ten years.
The teenager scored eleven goals in the reserve league this season, including a run of six in as many matches during the spring that first drew attention from the first-team coaching staff.
“He has the kind of movement in the box you can’t really coach,” the academy director said. “The contract is recognition of the work, but the real test starts now.”
The young forward is expected to travel with the first team for pre-season training next month, though the club has been careful to describe the move as a development opportunity rather than an immediate promise of first-team minutes.
Academy officials said three more contract offers to other graduating players are expected before the end of the month, part of a broader push to lean more heavily on homegrown talent after several expensive transfer windows.
