Soccer Team Signs 11-Year-Old

Premier League champeens Chelsea have negotiated a £10,000 + add-ons deal to sign an 11-year-old striker from League Two club Northampton Town.

German-born Michael Gyasi has been with the Cobblers' youth academy for three years and was spotted by Chelsea scouts after impressing during a game against their U10s a year ago.

Head of Northampton's academy, Trever Gould, told the Guardian:

I think this is a trend that is going to happen. When you are young, you learn most about football and Michael will now play against better teams and better players. I remember the game against Chelsea last year. I think Chelsea won something like 6-2 but I am sure that Michael got the two goals.

He moved over from Germany with his parents about four years ago and, as a player, he is very quick, skilful and strong, although he is not very big for his age. He is a great finisher. Chelsea have got somebody special. If he does well, we will be well rewarded. Chelsea have been magnificent and fair.

Fledgling youth prospects are typically snapped up without fanfare by top flight clubs every season, so it'll be interesting to what sort of effect this added media exposure will have on Gyasi's development. Are we going to have another Jermaine Pennant on our hands?

P.S. While we're on the subject of wonderkids being thrust into the limelight - whatever happened to Rhain Davis, the nine-year old Australian kid who won himself a Man Utd contract after his granddad sent a DVD compilation to Old Trafford?

This post, written by Richard Gilzene, is republished with permission from The Spoiler. Go there often if you like soccer stuff.