Dibling signs Academy scholarship deal

The 16-year-old surpassed a decade at the club this year, moving up the ranks and impressing during the back end of the 2021/22 season.

Nine goal involvements in 20 games for the Under-18s saw Dibling make the step up to the B team, where he netted a first-half hat-trick at St James’ Park during a 4-2 victory on only his second start.

This caught the eye of the first-team coaches, who rewarded the attacking midfielder with a place in the matchday squad for the Premier League trip to Brentford in early May.

Looking to continue this upward curve, Dibling said: “This is my second home. I’ve been here so many years.

“All the staff, all the coaches, I have a good connection with them and I feel that’ll help me move up and get into the first-team.

“I want to play well and do what I did last year, or even better. Long-term I want to be a starter, play Premier League games, help the club out and have a good connection with the fans.

“It’s good to be back at this amazing place and I feel like it’s the right place to be.”

Academy Director Matt Hale said: “It’s fantastic to see Tyler commit himself to the football Club. He has had a great journey through our Academy and to see him be involved with the first-team last season was extremely fulfilling for everyone involved.

“He is someone who knows the Club, the staff and the culture really well, and we know all of his strengths and areas of development. This bond has been a long time in the making.

“The time and commitment to the programme over the last nine years from him, his family and the key staff at the Academy has been an integral part of Tyler’s achievements to date.

“He is back in the England squad selections, performing strongly within the professional development phase and I’m sure it won’t be long before he is back involved with the senior team.”