Brentford rising star sends love as Tottenham finalise deal
Brentford starlet Maxwell McKnight has sent a message in support of Tottenham youngster Jun’ai Byfield after he signed his first professional contract with the North London club.
Tottenham have aimed to promote youth players to their first-team in recent years following increased investment in their academy set-up.
They have struggled to do so, however, especially compared to their arch-rivals Arsenal who have young stars like Max Dowman impressing in their first-team alongside Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Thomas Frank has put some trust in the academy since his arrival, with Luca Williams-Barnett becoming the youngest player ever to appear for the club in the League Cup in September, while Callum Olusesi and Malachi Hardy have also been on the bench for Champions League games.
Jun’ai Byfield has joined his fellow academy stars on the first-team bench on six occasions so far this season, and his progress into the senior set-up has now been rewarded.
Max McKnight among those to react as Byfield signs first professional terms
Centre-back Byfield has featured 10 times for Spurs Under-21 team so far this term, but is yet to make a competitive senior appearance for the club despite appearing under Frank in pre-season.
Tottenham have now moved to tie him down to a maiden professional deal after he recently turned 17-years-old. with Byfield himself taking to Instagram to announce the news, saying: “Happy to have signed my first professional contract for this club.”
His heartfelt message was reacted to by a number of his fellow Spurs youth players, with Max McKnight, who recently left the club to join Brentford, leaving a red heart emoji in the replies.
Tottenham first-team star Richarlison also reacted with a clapping emoji, while teammate Olusesi commented: “Starboy!!” and fellow England youth international Dowman left two red heart emojis.
Spurs have high hopes for fellow youngster Luka Vuskovic
Tottenham will want to promote their youth players and show them that there is a clear pathway to the first team, but their current focus must undoubtedly be on achieving short-term success.
One youngster who has also been impressing this season, albeit out on loan at Bundesliga side Hamburg, is fellow centre-back Luka Vuskovic.
The 18-year-old has been a regular starter this season for HSV, with two goals in 13 games in all competitions and a goal of the season contender last time out against Werder Bremen.
Tottenham see Vuskovic as a “key part” of their long-term plans, and he could form a top centre-back partnership with the highly-rated Byfield in the years to come in North London.