Academy manager Terry Westley

The latest batch of Academy recruits have put pen to paper on their scholarships as they look to show they've got what it takes to earn a professional contract at Blues.

The nine 16-year-olds (pictured below signing their deals at St. Andrew's) who hail from a variety of countries, will now attend the club on a full time basis for two years

Academy manager Terry Westley believes that the club have recruited an excellent batch of players with very good prospects.

"We've worked hard to recruit these players and they are all of a very high standard," said Westley.

"There's a real international flavour this year with players from Belgium, Holland, Slovakia and America.

"If there had been more local lads of that quality we'd have gone local for sure, but sometimes you have a year where it might be more difficult and the players that you've seen from abroad are better than the ones on your doorstep."

Westley believes that the new intake will link up well with the current crop of second year scholars already at the club: "I've often spoken about trying to get back to back groups and in last year's group you've got the likes of Ashley Sammons, Mitch McPike and Jordon Mutch who have all played for England, as well as Shane Williams who has played for Wales," he said.

"So those two groups combined are very, very strong at youth level.

"They will play a lot of under 18 football and quite a few of them will step up and play reserve team football." 

Pictured below are the new intake of scholars.

Will Packwood. American central midfielder. Has represented his country at Under 17 level.

Akwasi Asante. Dutch born striker. Formerly at the Ajax Academy

Brice Ntambwe. Central midfielder. Captain of the Belgium Under 17 team

Fraser Kerr. Centreback and Scottish Under 17 international

Jack Butland. England under 16 goalkeeper

Jacob Hronec. Slovakian. Can play at full back or on either wing

Julius Gombala. Centre forward from Slovakia

Omar Bogle. Centre forward from Birmingham

Reece fleet. Central midfielder who has been with the Academy since he was eight.