Liam Sole has put pen-to-paper on his first professional deal with MK Dons.
The winger, who joined the Academy last summer, has signed a one-year deal with the option of a further 12 months. He will link-up with the first-team squad at the start of the 2018/19 season.
Sole is the fourth young Don to turn professional in the last 12 months along with David Kasumu, Dylan Asonganyi and, most recently, Finn Tapp.
Sole told mkdons.com: “I’m obviously ecstatic and really grateful for the opportunity. It’s every boy’s dream to sign a professional contract and to do that at such a great Football Club - I’m delighted.
“It’s been a real journey for me. I joined here at the second-year scholarship stage after a trial and I feel like I’ve had a good season here. I’ve certainly had my ups and downs but I’ve come a long way and I was pleased to be a part of the successes in the Under-18s and Under-23s.
He added: “I want to thank everyone who has supported me - my friends, my family and especially the staff and my teammates here. I am going to work really hard and hopefully I can play well and impress for the Club.”
Sole contributed to six goals in 30 starts for the Under-18s in 2017/18, helping them win the EFL Youth Alliance South East title and reach the Fourth Round of the FA Youth Cup. The pacy attacker also featured 14 times for the Under-23s, scoring twice and providing an assist.
Interim Academy Manager Simon Dwight said: “Liam signed for us at the start of the 2017/18 season and featured regularly for the Under-18s side.
"His ability to cut in from the wing and deliver a good cross and finish, as well as his skills on the ball, are the qualities that we noticed when we watched him as a trialist before the season started.
“He’s an exciting young prospect - not for a while have we seen a winger like this come through our Academy. We are looking forward to seeing him develop because he’s certainly a talent for the future.”
Senior Phase Development Coach Edu Rubio said: “I am really happy for Liam. He has only been with us for a year but that was enough time for him to prove his quality.
“He’s an exciting player. He’s a very skilful and tricky player with good pace. He likes to make things happen and relishes the challenge of taking on his opponent in one versus one situations.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how he progresses within the Club. Now it’s about his effort and work-rate in pre-season, so he can get himself in a position to impress the new manager.”
