- Highly rated Chester defender Sam Hughes joins Leicester City Development Squad
- Academy graduates Alex Pascanu and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sign two-year pro deals
- Academy Player of the Season Pascanu, was recently called up by Romania U21s
- Midfielder Dewsbury-Hall has progressed through the Academy ranks this term
Three promising young players have been added to Leicester City’s Development Squad ranks this week, including two from the Club’s Academy.
Highly-rated defender Sam Hughes, 20, will join the Development Squad on 1 July, after agreeing a move from National League club Chester on a three-year deal.
The powerful centre-half was Chester’s Player of the Year last season, winning a host of admirers for his mature and consistent performances at the heart of the Blues defence. He joins City following the expiration of his contract and the Club would like to extend its thanks to Chester CEO Mark Maguire for his support for the player and efforts to facilitate the move.
Meanwhile, promising duo Alex Pascanu and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, both graduates of the Leicester City Academy, have signed their first professional contracts – keeping them with the Club until June 2019.
Pascanu, winner of the Leicester City Academy Player of the Season award, is a versatile defender who has featured regularly for the Club’s Development Squad this term.
Called up by the Romania Under-21s this month for their UEFA EURO U21 2019 qualifier against Lichtenstein despite still being only 18-years-old, Pascanu also has a keen eye for goal.
In October, he scored a brilliant volley at Loughborough University to help the Foxes secure a 3-2 victory over Copenhagen during City's maiden UEFA Youth League campaign.
Industrious central midfielder Dewsbury-Hall, meanwhile, has continued to impress for the Under-18s this year, helping the team reach the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup.
The 18-year-old scored from long range during a 3-1 success over Leyton Orient in the third round before delivering a standout display against eventual winners Chelsea.
Promoted to the Development Squad in March, the Shepshed-based Academy product made his debut at Under-23s level during a 2-2 draw with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.