Oldham Athletic academy trio Vani Da Silva, Junior Luamba and Will Sutton have penned professional contracts with the club, and will now be part of the first-team squad next season.
Da Silva has agreed a short-term deal until the New Year, while Luamba and Sutton are contracted for the full season, with all three players aiming to add to their senior appearances tallies, having all made their debuts during the 2020-21 campaign.
Exciting forward Da Silva was the first of the trio to make his senior bow, featuring in the Carabao Cup in September before appearing in the Papa John’s Trophy two months later alongside defender Sutton.
Under-18s captain Sutton also gained experience in the EFL, coming off the bench on the final day of the season against Forest Green Rovers.
Meanwhile, Luamba was handed his first appearance in December, leading the line from the start of a 0-0 League Two draw with Grimsby, while he earned a second league outing with a late cameo against Exeter City in March.
“The lads deserve this opportunity for how they’ve conducted themselves on and off the pitch for the past two years,” Academy Manager Paul Murray told the club website.
“It’s fantastic that the club has given them a platform to earn themselves a career in the game and gives players at every age group in the academy the belief that hard work does pay off. We’re pleased we’ve managed to have graduates from the programme make the step up as that’s our ultimate aim as a department.”
Head Coach Keith Curle added: “I’m a firm believer in giving young players a chance and a platform to showcase their talent. They’ll be a part of our plans over pre-season, where they will get the opportunity to earn their place in the squad.
“They’ll need to be ready physically and mentally for the challenges ahead but I’ve seen something in each of them in my time here to give them a chance and sometimes that’s all a player asks for, an opportunity, which I’m sure they’ll want to take as they start out on their journey of being a professional.”
Additionally, winger Jack Williams has been offered a third-year scholar extension with the youth team, having spent several months on the sidelines with an injury.
