Confirmed: Adekoya signs pro deal with Stoke City, Okagbue departs for Walsall

 

Championship club Stoke City have announced that Anglo-Nigerian winger Dean Adekoya has signed a new deal.

Adekoya is among six youngsters who signed their first professional contracts at a special celebration event at the bet365 Stadium on Sunday,

Josh Bickerton, Jake Griffin, Christy Grogan, Jaden Mears and Will Smith have also gone professional.

The young Potters, along with Sporting Director Jonathan Walters and various Academy staff, including Ryan Shawcross and David Hibbert, attended Sunday’s event.

Adekoya, who hails from Manchester,  joined Stoke City at U14 level and has been described as a quick, strong and aggressive forward who makes things happen.

Last season, he scored two goals and provided two assists in fourteen appearances in the U18 Premier League and made his Premier League 2 debut off the bench against Middlesbrough U21s.

Mewanwhile, Republic of Ireland youth international of Nigerian descent David Okagbue has completed a permanent transfer to EFL League Two club Walsall.

The 20-year-old has returned to the Saddlers for a second spell after featuring for them last season on loan from the Potters, during which he scored one goal in 35 games.

Okagbue, who played in 64 matches for Stoke City’s youth teams, also gained first team experience during loan spells with Chester and Oldham Athletic.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel