With Dedryck Boyata, Greg Cunningham, Abdi Ibrahim and Alex Tchuimeni-Nimely all getting a crack at the first team in recent months, those joining the Elite Development Squad for next season will be hoping to push their claims to be the next products of the club’s youth system to make it into the senior side.
The players moving from Platt Lane to Carrington are: Ahmad Benali, Omar Elabdellaoui, John Guidetti, Jeremy Helan, Tom Smith, Sean Tse, Freddie Veseli, and Reece Wabara.
Goalkeeper Loris Karius also moves over on a permanent basis, having already trained with the senior goalkeepers towards the end of the season just finished.
The rest of the Elite Development Squad, all aged 21 and under is Adam Clayton, Scott Kay, Javan Vidal, Ben Mee, James Poole, Donal McDermott, Ryan McGivern, Robbie Mak, David Ball, Kieran Trippier and Andrew Tutte.
Chris Chantler will also be in the squad, having recently put pen to paper on a one-year contract extension. The 19-year-old, who can play left midfield, left back or in central midfield, has already spent one year at Carrington and he says he knows what is required for him to emulate those that played for the first team last season.
“The standard you need to make the grade in the Premier League is incredible, and I know that to make the grade I’ll have to up my performance,” he declared.
“The quality of training here is very high and I have really pushed myself during the last season, and I can’t wait to do so again. When you push yourself, you become a better player.”
