Nottingham Forest is pleased to confirm 12 players have signed their first scholarships with the club.
Zyan Blake (forward), Evan Boulter (central midfielder), Taeneal Brandy (forward), Ethan Broomes (centre-back), Isaac Davies (attacking midfielder), Frank Djamna (attacking midfielder), Bubbacar Sanneh (right-back), Fuad Smith (central midfielder), Zac Smith (goalkeeper), Will Thompson (centre-back), Jordan Willows (attacking midfielder) and Jonathan Whiteley (left-back) have all put pen to paper on two-year scholarships and will be a part of Nottingham Forest's Under-18s squad for the 2024/25 campaign.
Broomes joins the club following time at Manchester City, while the other players have all progressed from the Under-16s team here at Nottingham Forest.
This intake means the Under-18s group for next season will predominantly consist of first-year scholars, making it one of the youngest in the country and emphasising the club’s principle of prioritising player challenge over results at academy level.
The new scholars were welcomed during an induction evening at The Nigel Doughty Academy, with multi-discipline presentations on the night covering all areas of the club's comprehensive academy programme.
Parents and guardians were also present at the induction evening to watch the presentations and ask questions, given their vital role in the talent development journey.
Head of Academy Chris McGuane said: "I would like to pass on a massive congratulations to our new scholars and their families ahead of the 2024/25 season. We are delighted for the players as they now embark on this exciting next step in their journey.
"It is fantastic to see so many players being awarded with a scholarship having been at the club for a long time. A lot of these players have been with us from our youngest foundation phase age groups, showing a real pathway for local players across Nottinghamshire.
"We are all excited to see how they will progress this season in their first full-time experience in football and the Academy staff will continue to provide them with every opportunity to improve as players and as people. This is a talented and promising group of players who we are all looking forward to working with."
