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Young prospects sign first professional deals at Turf Moor

2021-07-07T15:44:00.000Z

SEVENTH HEAVEN

Young prospects sign first professional deals at Turf Moor

2021-07-07T15:44:00.000Z

Young prospects sign first professional deals at Turf Moor

The Clarets have signed seven young players on their first professional contracts as they look to further their careers at Turf Moor.

Max Thompson, Sam Unwin, Harry Allen, Calen Gallagher-Allison, Owen Dodgson, Ne-Jai Tucker and Lewis Thomas have all penned deals after completing their scholarships with Burnley.

The septet began life as professionals as the Under-23s returned to start pre-season training today (Wednesday).

They are then likely to be part of the squad that travels to Scotland next week for a training camp at Stirling University.

All seven of the young players featured for the Clarets’ Under-23s last season as Steve Stone’s side just missed out on a place in the play-offs in their first season in the second tier of Premier League 2.

Striker Thompson, who finished as top scorer for the U23s, also made it as far as the bench at first-team level last season, having made his Premier League debut as a substitute at Manchester City in June 2020.

Thompson, 19, previously spent time at Everton and Manchester United – where defenders Gallagher-Allison and Dodgson (both 18) also started their youth careers before linking up with the Clarets last season.

Unwin, 18, also started out in the Academy setup at United before joining Burnley from Bury two years ago.

Goalkeeper Thomas has spent two seasons as a scholar with the Clarets after arriving from Manchester City.

And after graduating from the youth team to the U23 setup, the 19-year-old travelled with the Clarets’ senior squad for the final Premier League game of last season at Sheffield United.

Thomas is joined in the goalkeeping department by Allen, another former United junior, who has developed through a three-year scholarship with the Clarets.

And wingman Tucker – an 18-year-old Bermuda youth international – steps into the professional ranks after spending seven years coming through the Academy set-up at Turf Moor where the Clarets are continuing to nurture young players on a potential pathway to the Premier League.