Talented young defender Jacob Rowe has joined football's professional ranks after putting pen to paper on a one-year deal with Blues.

The 18-year-old from Dorridge is the club's current Academy Player of the Year and completed his scholarship with the youth set-up in June.

Describing the talented young centre-half, Blues Academy coach Steve Spooner said: "Jacob is a great example to all the young players at the club that if you apply yourself and if you have a desire to work you can earn a professional contract.

"If anyone deserved one on sheer determination to improve it's him. He knew what he was short of and tried to do something about it by working on his weaknesses.

"Now his task is to keep working hard and to get to the next level."

That next level for Rowe is to try to force himself into the thoughts of first team manager Alex McLeish.