Ashley Akpan is on trial at Sunderland after his summer release by Premier League giants Chelsea, as reported by All Nigeria Soccer.
The teenage defender will, of course, be disappointed to have been denied the chance to sign a scholarship contract at Stamford Bridge. But, as the likes of Tariq Lamptey will tell you, there’s life outside west London.
Akpan was let go in the summer and is now on the lookout for a new club.
Reports suggest the Polish-born youngster, who can represent England or Nigeria at international level, has been offered the opportunity he’s been waiting for having made the lengthy trip north for a spell on Wearside.
Sunderland handed him a start during their 5-0 defeat to Manchester City at U18 level at the weekend too. And it remains to be seen whether Akpan did enough to earn himself another chance in red and white.
The lack of focus and attention given to the club’s academy system has been a point of consternation among many Black Cats fans for a number of years, with Sunderland frequently losing their most exciting, home-grown talent to the likes of Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester United.
The League One giants at least appear to be making an effort to turn things around, however.
The likes of Will Harris, Kenton Richardson, Vinnie Steels and Sam Wilding were all snapped up during the summer, with Akpan the latest in a long line of youngsters offered the chance to kick-start their career at the Academy Of Light.
Akpan, should he impress, could become the first signing of the Lee Johnson era.
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