Thu 29 Oct
Time to read: 2mins
Derby County Academy pair Ethan Wassall and Kellan Gordon have put pen to paper on their first professional contracts.
Despite both still completing their second year scholarships, the 17-year-old’s have been regular faces in Darren Wassall’s Under 21 squad, contributing to their strong start to the Barclays Under 21 Premier League – Division 2 campaign.
Wassall, who has played in all but two of the Under 21s’ fixtures this season, has also assumed the Captaincy for the Under 18s group this season.
Gordon, a winger who has featured in eight of the Under 18s’ nine fixtures this season, recently linked up with the Under 21s for their recent tour of Spain and has been a regular in their matchday squad.
Both players have signed two and a half year contracts with the club and Darren Wassall, Derby’s Academy Manager, believes the pair have fully deserved the contracts, but says the hard work now begins all over again for the pair.
Speaking to Rams Player HD, he said: “I’m delighted for both of them. They have worked really hard over the last 18 months since they joined us as full-time scholars, not just to play for the Under 18s, but to force their way into the Under 21s squad this season.
“They both had a taste for it at the end of last season, but this year they have established themselves as big part of the squad and the team.
“We challenged all of the scholars at the start of the season not to wait until the end of the season to be rewarded with a professional contract.
“We have told them that if they play well enough and their application is good around the place then they could be rewarded with a professional contract at any time.
“Kellan and Ethan both fully deserve it and the challenge for them both is to now kick on. The first professional contract is a reward and a recognition of the work that they have done, but there is so, so much more work to be done.
“They now have to establish themselves with the Under 21s and then we, as we do with all of our players, will try and push on to the first team squad.”
Full interviews with Ethan Wassall and Kellan Gordon will follow across dcfc.co.uk and Rams Player HD shortly.
