Leicester City release full list of 11 18years academy players promoted to senior squad as fox shutdown youth era

Leicester City have announced that they have handed out professional contracts to a host of promising talents on the eve of the new Premier League season. The Foxes have had success stories aplenty in recent years as regards to academy products who have broken into the first-team environment and made an impact.

Now the next wave of youngsters with potential are challenged to follow in the footsteps of Harvey Barnes, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Ben Chilwell, among others, who have played significant

There are already a host of academy products which run right the way through Steve Cooper’s senior squad, including Ben Nelson, Kasey McAteer and Hamza Choudhury among the most prominent names readying themselves for top flight action.

Now, a new crop are emerging. Kian Pennant, 20, Joshua King, 17, Kevon Gray, 17, Liam McAlinney, 18, Toby Onanaye, 18, Stevie Bausor, 18 and Tommy Neale, 18, all hail from Leicestershire and many have been at the club, spending time in the various academy age groups, since they were eight years old.

In addition to those seven players, Bobby Amartey, 18, former Manchester City kid Jayden Joseph, 18, Chris Popov, 19, and former Arsenal and Chelsea winger Amani Richards, 19, have also penned respective deals.

Leicester’s academy, which was victorious in the under 16 Premier League Cup this past season, have undergone change this summer after Ben Petty, the club’s development squad manager, left to join Birmingham City and become assistant manager of the first team at the League One club.