CITY have unveiled their latest crop of young academy talent hoping to make the grade.

Eight players will join up with the under-17 and under-19 ranks next season with a further eight currently at under-15 level agreeing scholarships to begin the following campaign.

And another five under-14s have been tied down to start scholarships for 2024/2025.

Finlay Gledhill, Muhamadou Sedibeh, Dylan Wilkinson, Zachariah Hadi, Harry Ibbitson, Gabriel Wadsworth and Junior Kamwa will all begin as under-17 scholars next term. Isaac Robinson will move up to the under-18s.

They will be joined in 2023/24 and 2024/25 by Brandon White, Lewis Boney, Max Ruddock, Oliver Thompson, Leon Brooks, George Goodman, Kieron Mboma, Alvin Ayman, Max Murray, Bilal Hussain, Franklin Denison, Alfie Bradshaw and Zante Rose Campbell.

City professional development phase support coach Ryan Farrell said: “We are thrilled to be welcoming the latest cohort of exciting prospects onto our scholarship programme from next season.

“Each of the players have shown a strong culture while sticking firmly to our core values.

“Hard work and potential has got them to this stage, and they are fully aware of the hard work required heading into their scholarship years.

“We as staff see potential in all of the players, and they have all shown it in different ways. This is now a chance for them to grab their opportunity and embrace the challenge.”

City’s academy manager Neil Matthews added: “Our players are often late developers and can find it very challenging during the foundation and youth development phase period against stronger players.

“With that in mind, a lot of credit must be given to these talented young players who have been able to continue their progression this season and be offered scholarship opportunities.

“It is also a proud moment for their families, previous coaches and the academy staff, who have supported them during this period.

“We aim to provide local young players a potential pathway through the academy and hope that they can follow in the footsteps of our current group of promising scholars, who have set a very high standard this season.

“Martin Drury, Ryan Farrell and the MDT staff can take a great deal of credit for creating such a strong culture that our scholars have thrived in, as shown by their individual and collective progression this season in the under-19s team.”