New Youth Team Scholars

Nine new first-year scholars will join Posh U18s ahead of the new campaign.

Peterborough United are pleased to reveal the new first-year scholars who will join up with under-18s side for the upcoming campaign.

There will be nine new first-year scholars that will link-up with the under 18s squad, including one goalkeeper with Ignas Sakalas stepping up for next season. 

Sakalas, who joined the club at the end of last season, is a real presence in between the sticks, a great shotstopper and is getting better with his feet.

Alongside Salakas, the new intake will also see two new defenders as part of the squad. Those being Luke Gilbert, Noah Freeman and Fabian Claxton.

Gilbert is a ball-playing centre-back, who is comfortable in possession and has great range of passing. He was also the captain for the under 16s in their Professional Development League Cup final at the backend of last season.

A player that has been with the club for a number of years, Claxton is a physical and powerful player that is good in and out of possession. He can play centre-back and right-back.

Next up is right-back, Freeman, who can also play on the right of a back-three. He is tidy on the ball and an intelligent player that enjoys playing out from the back.

The midfielders amongst the new first-year scholars are Max Beech, George Holley and Tom Unwin, while Andre Changunda can play out wide.

Beech is a tidy and combative midfielder, who likes to get onto the ball and influence games with his passing. The midfielder joined the club from Leicester City at the end of last season and has really settled into the group well.

Holley joined the club from Chelsea at the end of last season. He is a creative midfielder, who can play a variety of positions in midfield, and can influence the game with his passing but also enjoys getting stuck in.

Unwin is a player that has been involved with the club for a number of years. He is a versatile player that can play in midfield and likes to get forward, but can also sit just in front of the defence. The midfielder featured numerous times for the under 18s last season and scored in the Under-16 Professional Development League Cup final back in May. 

Changunda is an explosive winger with plenty of tricks and always looks to beat his man. He joined the club last season and has already made a number of appearances for the under 18s.

The list is completed by Joe Davies as the forward option amongst the nine new first-year scholars.

Davies is another player that has been with the club for a number of years. He is a goalscoring forward that can also play out wide. He has plenty of goals in him and likes to run at defenders.