According to All Nigeria Soccer, Dubem Eze will sign a professional contract with Derby County following a successful trial at the club after his release from Chelsea.
The youngster began the campaign in Chelsea’s academy.
The Blues, however, informed Eze they won’t be offering him a scholarship deal at Stamford Bridge and the 16-year-old later made the move to Derby on trial.
Eze, who features predominantly as a central midfielder, came off the bench during Derby’s U18 clash with Everton this past week and scored in a 2-1 victory.
All Nigeria Soccer now claim he has done enough to impress at Moor Farm, and he will sign a professional contract at Derby this coming summer when he turns 17.
Eze will become the second Nigerian teenager to sign a deal with the Rams after former Arsenal youngster Bayo Fapetu penned a deal with Derby earlier this season.
Derby have improved their youth scouting in recent years and their academy is now regarded as one of the best in England, with the U18s winning the Premier League trophy in 2019.
The Rams have created a pathway for their youngsters to earn first-team football as Lee Buchanan, Louie Sibley, Max Bird and Jason Knight are all now regulars.
Louie Watson, meanwhile, only left West Ham United’s youth team last summer and he has since been handed a full Championship start by Derby boss Wayne Rooney.
Watson’s involvement will be of great motivation for the likes of Eze as an impressive run of form in Derby’s youth teams will provide an opportunity to break into the first-team.
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