Blues have announced that seven scholars have signed their first professional contracts.
The cohort will form a core of the season’s under-21s for new head coach Scott Sellars.
Louie Rea, son of former Blues centre-half or centre-forward Simon Rea, has agreed a one-year deal, with a 12-month option.
The midfielder made waves for the under-21s last season and he will be joined on one-year terms by Junior Wilson.
The defender was released by Aston Villa at the end of his scholarship and Blues took him in after a trial period at the end of last season.
Attacking midfielder Cobi Maddox made a breakthrough into the under-21s at the back end of last season and defender Jack Quirk made 20 appearances, at left-back. They have both signed two-year contracts, with a 12-month option.
Defenders Salif Bamba, Riquelme Thompson-Jones – who is currently with Chris Davies’ first team squad in Portugal – and midfielder Dynaeo Martin-Moore have also agreed two-year contracts, with the 12-month option.
Forever Blues understands that striker Tobey Ugorji is currently on month-to-month professional terms with the under-21s.
Blues also announced that goalkeeper Will O’Sullivan has penned a new one-year contract, with the option of a further year.
Blues released scholars Dylan Okpapi, Liam Brannigan (both defenders), midfielders Ben Flavell, Kaidon Robinson and striker Kian McCusker.
Of Blues second year professionals, defender Trae Briscoe, midfielder George Wynne and forward Yusuf Ahmed have not had their year’s option taken up. Wynne is heading to the United States on a scholarship at university in Atlanta, Georgia.
Goalkeeper Szymon Terenowicz also left Blues on the expiry of his contract.
The headline from the new intake would have been Aurelien Guernier, who made the first team bench in March.
But the wide attacker decided to reject Blues offer of a professional contract and instead signed for AC Milan, with Blues set to receive the applicable statutory compensation of around £125,000.
After the release of a strong clutch of second year professionals this summer, the loss of Guernier and Byron Pendleton’s free transfer to Shrewsbury Town, the pool of under-21s players looks thin.
Blues have been running the rule over several trialists since the under-21s returned to pre-season training but so far none have been added to the ranks.
The under-21s will likely include current second year scholars from the get-go this season as the squad of young professionals currently numbers 16, which includes two goalkeepers and third year Menzi Mazwi, who is likely to head out loan.
