Meanwhile 18-year-old Academy scholar Rob Paratore has been rewarded for some fine midfield displays by signing his first one-year professional contract.
All four have featured heavily for Steve Beaglehole’s table-topping Under-21s side this term, with second-year scholar Paratore, who has been with the Academy for four years, also a key part of Trevor Peake’s Under-18s setup.
Development Squad striker Blyth, 20, finished the season as top scorer for City’s Under-21s, as well as picking up loan experience with Burton Albion and Notts County in League 2 and League 1 respectively.
Pearson, 20, also played a key role in the Development Group’s successful campaign from right-back, before an injury unfortunately cut his season short, while Taft, 19, has underlined his potential with some impressive defensive displays to add to the experience he gained under Noel Blake with England’s Under-18s and Under-19s.