Guiseley Academy striker Jake Young, 17, has signed a professional contract that will keep him with Sheffield United until 2020/21.
Jake joined the academy in 2017 from Shelley Juniors and he progressed through the Academy first team playing in the National Youth Alliance to be included in the first team squad at Guiseley.
Huddersfield-born Jake has been part of the Marcus Bignot and Russ O’Neill’s first team squad since pre-season and his performances for the academy team caught the eye of a number of Championship and Premiership clubs.
However, it was the Blades who managed to persuade Jake to join them. In his trial period, which began in November, Jake played regularly for the U-23s scoring the winner on his debut v Birmingham City at St Andrew’s with his first touch.
He went on to catch the eye of the Blades’ first team manager Chris Wilder when included in a first team behind closed doors game against Wigan Athletic and was subsequently offered a pro deal.
Guiseley AFC Head of Youth Dave Currie said: “Jake is a great example of what can be achieved with hard work and a strong self-belief. He has came from a Sunday League club and is now a professional football player at a top Championship club. Jake is an example to every young player that anything is possible and his move underlines the opportunities available for players at Guiseley AFC Academy. We wish him all the very best in the future.”
Jake joins an ever-growing line of Guiseley AFC Academy scholar players who have either pushed on to professional football or Guiseley AFC’s first team with striker Ben Whitfield having joined Bournemouth and now moved on to Port Vale, Jacob Brown joining Barnsley and goalkeeper Tom Stewart having joined Morecambe.
Two further products of the Academy, Will Thornton and Scott Smith, are currently in Guiseley’s first team squad.