logo
Breakthrough teen one of five with first County deals

Breakthrough teen one of five with first County deals

BBC News16-05-2025

A 17-year-old who made his senior debut on the final day of the season is among five youngsters to have been handed their first professional deals by Newport County.Moses-Alexander Walker came off the bench to make his maiden County appearance in the defeat by Tranmere Rovers at the start of the month.The Bristol-born forward caught the eye and has been joined by four others from the club's academy to be offered senior contracts.Corey Evans , Morgan Evans, Riley Lonergan and Sam Watkins - all 18 - have all also been invited to step up to the first-team having been part of the club's Under-18 side that reached the semi-finals of the FAW Youth Cup.The club say the offers are part of "strengthening the club's ongoing commitment to developing homegrown talent and building a strong pathway from the academy to the first team".Local boy Lonergan was also involved in senior matchday squads towards the end of the League Two campaign and has been offered a one-year deal, as has fellow midfielder Corey Evans. Wideman Morgan Evans and defender Watkins have been offered six month deals.Academy manager, Luke Hussey said: "We're incredibly proud to see Corey, Mo and Riley who have all been involved in first team squads offered professional contracts at the end of their scholarships, and to see Sam and Morgan rewarded with six-month deals."These offers are a reflection of the hard work and dedication shown by the players, and a testament to the belief the club has in our academy system. It's another clear sign that there is a genuine pathway at Newport County AFC for those who are willing to work hard for it."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Leicester and England wonderkid Jeremy Monga, 15, snubs Man City interest to stay at King Power Stadium
Leicester and England wonderkid Jeremy Monga, 15, snubs Man City interest to stay at King Power Stadium

The Sun

time27 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Leicester and England wonderkid Jeremy Monga, 15, snubs Man City interest to stay at King Power Stadium

LEICESTER CITY have signed 15-year-old starlet Jeremy Monga on a bumper new contract in a major coup for the Championship club. The news will come as a blow to Manchester City and a string of other Premier League and top continental clubs who were desperate to snap up the teenage prodigy. 1 The winger became the second youngest player ever to appear in the Premier League earlier this season when he came on as a substitute against Newcastle. And he went on to make seven Premier League appearances for Ruud van Nistelrooy 's relegated Foxes. That sparked interest from Euro giants Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich as well as interest closer to home, led by Man City. Foxes fans feared Monga would be snapped up before he fulfilled his potential at the King Power. City could have swooped before he was old enough to sign his first professional contract aged 17 and Leicester would only have received a nominal fee as compensation for developing the young talent. However that would have been worth a fraction of the kid's true value. Now Leicester have protected their investment by convincing the 15-year-old winger to sign a new scholarship contract with a professional clause that kicks in when he reaches his 17th birthday in July next year. Monga, who joined Leicester's Academy as a nine-year-old, will now begin his Academy scholarship this summer with his first pro contract kicking in by the summer of 2026. Despite being just 15 years old, Monga has already featured for the Foxes first team during the 2024/25 season. It means the teenager will be around next season to try and help Leicester return to the Premier League at the first attempt and comes as a huge boost to the relegated Foxes. £67M Real Madrid Star Rodrygo on Gunners Hit List | From The Sports Desk | Sun Sport Leicester are also on the brink of signing fellow teenager Jake Evans on a similar deal. 'It's important to have these players for the future for a longer time. I think he will be very good for the club,' said Van Nistelrooy at the end of last season. Polish goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk has seen his contract extended by the Club to 2027 after an impressive campaign that saw the 24-year-old Academy graduate collect 10 Premier League appearances. In total Leicester signed up nine Academy graduates as they prepare for life back in the Championship. But Monga's deal is by far the most significant as it keeps him out of the clutches of Europe's leading clubs. Following a 16-minute debut off the bench against Newcastle in the Premier League, Monga went on to make a further six league appearances for the club under Van Nistelrooy. A club statement said: "Nine exciting young talents from our Academy will extend their stays with Leicester City after a combination of new contracts, extension options and scholarship agreements were confirmed... "Meanwhile, Jeremy Monga has committed to commencing his professional career as a Leicester City player, with an agreement now in place to secure the talented teenager's future at King Power Stadium. "Jeremy will begin his Academy scholarship this summer with his first professional contract scheduled to commence in summer 2026. "Our second-youngest appearance maker and the second-youngest player in Premier League history, having made the first of his seven Premier League appearances against Newcastle United in April, aged 15 years and 271 days, Jeremy is among an exciting group currently progressing on our Academy pathway, which he joined as an Under-9." The versatile winger has been captain of England 's Under-16s too and trained with City's U-21s squad as a result of his potential. But that only helped to catch the eye of some of Europe's top clubs, with City among those who were hoping to tie up a move this summer. Monga almost made history by becoming the youngest ever Premier League goalscorer against Nottingham Forest, only to be denied by Matz Sels. Van Nistelrooy was boisterous on his future and said at the time: "That would have been some story if Jeremy could have topped his exam week with a winner away at Forest. "If he stays here and this is his future we can build more minutes into his pathway. "I've had many conversations with him and his family. And so hopefully he can sign soon - it's up to him. "It's a joy to work with him and sometimes we speak about GCSEs and mathematics. I even have to help him with his studies sometimes! "But if he had scored the winner against Forest that would have been a real fairytale."

Michael Owen reveals he didn't know what Ballon d'Or was when he won it and had to ask manager about it
Michael Owen reveals he didn't know what Ballon d'Or was when he won it and had to ask manager about it

The Sun

time27 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Michael Owen reveals he didn't know what Ballon d'Or was when he won it and had to ask manager about it

MICHAEL OWEN has admitted he had no idea what the Ballon d'Or was - even after winning it. The former Liverpool striker won the prestigious gong in 2001, beating Real Madrid icon Raul into second place. 2 2 Owen played 297 times for the Reds over an eight-year stint, scoring 158 goals. He later moved to Real Madrid and Manchester United, as well as earning 89 caps for England. The 45-year-old's electric pace and lethal finishing made him one of the world's most feared strikers. Owen bagged 24 goals in 46 Premier League games in 2001, catching the eye of the Ballon d'Or panel. The award is handed out annually to Europe's best player. But after beating greats including David Beckham, Luis Figo and Thierry Henry to the award, Owen had absolutely no clue what it was. Owen told talkSPORT: "When Gerard Houllier phoned me and said 'You've won the Ballon d'Or', I'm like 'What's that gaffer'? "I didn't know what the award was. I never did because I never even knew what it was. "Back in those days it was never in our press." Owen was just the fourth English player to win the Ballon d'Or, following Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan. But it wasn't until he became a Galactico with Madrid in 2004 that he truly understood its significance. Owen continued: "When I played for Real Madrid, it's like an MBE, it follows you. "Whenever they mention your name it's Ballon d'Or winner. "Abroad it is so big and it's only just cottoned on here for the last five or ten years. "It's so much bigger in other countries, in foreign countries. "It quickly sunk in how big it was."

PSG hold further talks for Bournemouth star with the defender keen to join Champions League winners after breakout season
PSG hold further talks for Bournemouth star with the defender keen to join Champions League winners after breakout season

Daily Mail​

time37 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

PSG hold further talks for Bournemouth star with the defender keen to join Champions League winners after breakout season

Paris Saint-Germain have held further talks over a move for Bournemouth centre back Ilya Zabarnyi. The Ukrainian, who is one of a number of Cherries stars to have had something of a breakthrough season under Andoni Iraola at the Vitality Stadium, is keen on the move. The South Coast outfit have already seen Dean Huijsen depart for £50million to Real Madrid, and Liverpool are in talks over a move for left back Milos Kerkez over a deal that could reach as much as £45m. To also lose Zabarnyi would leave Iraola with an almighty rebuild over the summer having put together a brilliant side based on defensive prowess that surged beyond the club's record Premier League finish and points tally. Only five teams in the top flight conceded fewer goals than Iraola's side last season, who finished ninth in the standings. Ukrainian defender Zabarnyi has caught the eye since joining the Cherries from Dynamo Kyiv in January 2023. The 22-year-old started all but three of Bournemouth's Premier League matches last season and he was suspended for two of those, as he soon become one of the most important players in the team. The Cherries have already enquired about a move for Bologna's Coppa Italia winning centre back Jhon Lucumi, with Huijsen already out the door and on the way to Madrid. The 26-year old has 28 caps for Colombia, but Bournemouth will face competition with Serie A giants Inter Milan also showing interest. In what is set to be a busy summer for them, Bournemouth have also asked about PSV forward Johan Bakayoko and are prepared to make an offer in the region of £20m to secure his services. The 22-year-old Belgium international has been tracked by a number of Premier League clubs and Bournemouth want to bolster their attacking options for manager Andoni Iraola. The Cherries are determined to strengthen despite their talented squad being targeted by elite European clubs. Bakayoko impressed against Liverpool in the Champions League this season and was the subject of a failed £17m bid from Burnley in 2023.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store