British-Pakistani talent Adil Nabi from the West Bromwhich Albion FC youth academy and England youth international has signed a professional contract with the EPL side aged just 17 years old. The news was announced on the West Brom official website:
Adil Nabi has today been rewarded for his progress with his first professional contract.
The 17-year-old Academy product has penned a two-year Albion deal to keep him at The Hawthorns until June 2013, with a further year’s option in the club’s favour.
It crowns an outstanding year for the Birmingham-born striker, who has become a regular in the England set-up.
Baggies sporting & technical director Dan Ashworth said: “I’m delighted Adil has signed his first pro contract.
“It highlights the hard work he and his family have put in and is another step on the ladder to him hopefully getting in and around the first team.
“I remember Adil playing for our reserves as a 14-year-old in a pre-season match at Hereford.
“We’re really pleased with the progress he has made and hope it will continue over the next few years.
“It also reflects all the hard work the Academy continue to do by nurturing another young player onto a pro contract.”
Nabi joined the club as an eight-year-old and has scored goals at every level.
This term he has smashed eight goals in 13 FA Premier Academy League games.
He came off the bench to fire the winner in the Baggies’ 2-1 Barclays Premier Reserve League win at Everton in October and has started three of the last four second-string games for the club.
Nabi captained Albion to the Nike Premier Cup in April 2009 before being selected for England Under-16s six months later.
He made two appearances against Wales and Northern Ireland in the successful 2009/10 Victory Shield campaign.
The first of his seven appearances at Under-17s level could not have gone any better as he scored twice in a minute to help England thrash Finland 5-0 en route to winning the Nordic Tournament in the summer.