Sheffield Wednesday have announced they have gifted professional contracts to academy graduates, Matt Penney and Connor Kirby.
The pair have both signed deals running through until the summer of 2018. Both aged 17, they have impressed for the Owls’ Under-18 team before making the jump up to the ‘development’ squad who play in the Under-21 Premier League Cup.
Penney has been with the Owls since he was eight years old with Kirby joining him four years ago. Sheffield Wednesday’s academy boss Dean Ramsdale has been full of praise for the two teenagers:
“It’s great news for the academy and great news for the boys.
“They have continued to improve and impress and we felt the time was right to offer them their contracts early.
“Connor (Kirby) has been outstanding and does the bits that people often don’t see but are important for the team. He’s worked so hard since coming in full time and we feel this is the reward he deserves.
“Matt (Penney) has been absolutely fantastic for the Under-18s. He’s great for the team because everyone has confidence in him and he can play in a number of positions. He brings quality and has fantastic technique as we have seen with the goals he has scored,” Ramsdale said about the pair.
He went on to discuss the potential of other academy players: “We have a lot of expectations for this group and I have said to a few more that they are not far away.”
