Eight youngsters sign first year scholarships
Southampton Football Club has welcomed its latest scholarship intake as eight youngsters have signed ahead of the 2024/25 season.
The latest cohort consists of four players that have risen up through the Academy system, two recent youth signings, and two brand new additions who will all join the Under-18s set-up.
Midfielder Korban McMullan has been involved with Saints for the longest out of the group, having first entered the club's Weston development centre at five-years-old.
He has already stepped up to the Under-18s age group in recent seasons after making his debut in the 2022/23 campaign and recording six appearances at that level so far.
Another long time Saint is right-back Hansel Adjei-Afriyie, who has been with the club since the age of seven.
A local lad, who was spotted in the Southampton development centre, also made his Under-18s debut in the '22/23 season.
"I’ve been here a long time and I love the club," he said after signing, "it’s a really proud moment.”
The only goalkeeper in the group is Dylan Moody, who joined from the Bath development centre and rose up the ranks since the age of eight.
He enjoyed a successful 2023/24 season, where he broke into the Under-18s and made 13 appearances across all competitions, even gaining experience in a training session with Russell Martin's first team.
Dylan Moody has been at the club for eight years.
The fourth player who has made the journey through Saints' system is Harry Gathercole, an attacking midfielder who has been at the club since he was nine.
He made his Under-18s debut in the 2022/23 season and has played five times in the last two seasons for them.
Two of the more recent arrivals are former-Reading duo Thierry Rohart-Brown and Cameron Frederick.
Frederick - a tall, powerful defender - arrived in January from the Royals, and describes himself as "a leader, and courageous on the pitch."
Midfielder Rohart-Brown joined Saints slightly earlier, in October 2023, and enjoyed a successful 2023/24 campaign playing up the age groups.
He made 14 appearances in all competitions, and also stepped up to the Under-21s where he scored on his debut in the Premier League International Cup against Celtic.
Rohart-Brown celebrating his Under-21s debut goal.
Finally, the two new arrivals are both wingers who have joined from differing backgrounds.
Leo Umeh joins after leaving Chelsea, and describes himself as a "direct player who likes to create chances."
Meanwhile, Nsemi Bassega had time in West Ham United's academy but since spent the last two years out of the system and at a grassroots level, but impressed on trial at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
The eight players will all link up with the Under-18s for the 2024/25 season, subject to FA approval.
Main image: Chris Moorhouse
