Academy Stars Secure Professional Deals

- New contracts for 11 members of Leicester City’s Academy
- Seven players have been with the Football Club from the Foundation Phase
- Club building on strong tradition of developing young local talent

Among those are seven players who been with the Football Club from the Foundation Phase (Under-9 to Under-12) and have steadily progressed along the Academy pathway to sign professional terms.

All hailing from Leicestershire and playing in the Football Club’s Academy system from the ages of between 8 and 11, Kian Pennant, Joshua King, Kevon Gray, Liam McAlinney, Toby Onanaye, Stevie Bausor, and Tommy Neale have signed professionally with Leicester City.

The Club has a long and proud track record of bringing through young talent, with Hamza Choudhury, Kasey McAteer, Luke Thomas, Ben Nelson, Jakub Stolarczyk, Daniel Iversen and Wanya Marçal all among the current group of Academy graduates.

Their progress builds on previous First Team success of the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Harvey Barnes, Andy King and Ben Chilwell to name just a few of the talented names to have come through the Club’s pathway in recent years

Pennant, a 20-year-old Leicester-born striker, signs his second deal with the Football Club, while fellow forward King, 17, a second-year scholar has also seen his progress rewarded with a first professional contract.

Academy defenders McAlinney, 18 and Gray, a 17-year-old second year scholar, have also signed contracts, while the midfield duo of Onanaye and Neale, along with goalkeeper Bausor, all 18, have joined them in agreeing professional terms.

In addition to the group who have progressed from Under-9s, defender Bobby Amartey, 18, who has been at the Football Club from the age of 12, has signed his first deal, as well as right-back Jayden Joseph, 18, who arrived at the Club at 16 years old after a spell with Manchester City.

In the Development Squad, another season of exciting development has also seen second professional contracts for two highly-rated young players – Chris Popov and Amani Richards.

Popov, 19, is a Welsh youth international striker who has impressed with Leicester City’s Under-18s and Under-21s since his arrival in 2021, while 19-year-old winger Richards has also made positive strides with the Foxes after spells with both Chelsea and Arsenal at academy level.

All will now continue their development in Leicester City’s development pathway as they look to follow in the footsteps on a long list of Academy graduates to feature for the Football Club’s First Team.