We are delighted to announce that Miguel Valsau has signed a deal for the 2023/24 campaign after an exciting pre-season.
After impressing manager Paul Phillips in pre-season friendlies young Academy product Miguel Valsau has signed a contract with Guiseley AFC, writes Rachel O’Connor.
The young forward is excited by having the opportunity to play in the first team after two seasons of making progress with the club’s Academy.
He said: “I want to get as many minutes as I can in the first team. Signing a contract for the first team is a big step for me. I really enjoyed it in the Academy and played a year above my age so I am used to playing with older players and it was then not so hard as it could have been making the transition to first team football.
He added: “I like to play as an attacking midfielder but I can also play as a winger and would love the chance to play in either position for the first team. Not being 19 until September I will still be eligible to play for the Academy and will be happy to do that if needed.”
That may well depend on what direction Valsau takes next after finishing his education tied in with the Academy. After being educated at Dixon’s Academy in Armley when he first arrived in England the Seacroft-based youngster continued his education at Shipley College. He now has his eye on getting employment in the sports industry.
The 18 year-old was born in Angola but in 2016 he and his family moved from Portugal to live in the Netherlands. It was there that Valsau started playing at a club in the Vlaadinger neighbourhood of Rotterdam.
The young forward said: “I played from October 2016 to May 2017 in Vlaadinger and scored many goals and won some cups at local football tournaments.”
In May 2017 after almost a year in the Netherlands the family returned to Portugal where his father enrolled him in the school of Futebol Clube do Porto.
The following year Valsau started playing at Valadares, where he remained until December 2018.
Three years ago the family moved to England and wanting to continue with his football Valsau took part in some trials in Manchester from which he was offered trials at Sheffield United and Guiseley AFC Academy.
Valsau said: “It is the dream of any young player to play for an English club. I always loved watching English football games. My father had found UK Football Trials on the Internet and said that it was a magnificent opportunity for me to show myself and arouse interest in some English clubs.”
He added: “I had a wonderful trial and several clubs scouted me. Manchester City and Sheffield United asked questions on the day and Guiseley invited me to trial.
“Unfortunately Manchester City backed out because I had only arrived in the UK a short time before and I had never played in a club in England. However, Sheffield United decided to give me a trial after which The Blades decided to move him to their development team where they continued to monitor him.
Valsau thus joined the Guiseley AFC Academy and has further progressed under Head Coach Dave Currie. Last season he signed Non Contract forms for the first team and made his debut in a West Riding County Cup game.
Miguel’s home, away and training kits are all available to sponsor.
