Bradford City quartet sign first professional deals

Eighteen-year-olds Connor Shanks, Finn Cousin-Dawson, Jorge Sikora and Kian Scales have all joined Stuart McCall’s senior squad on one-year deals.

Defenders Sikora and Cousin-Dawson and midfielders Shanks and Scales all have previous experience of training in the club's first-team environment. They were all part of the City under-18 team that reached the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup last season.

They will team up with fellow scholar Reece Staunton, who signed a deal just before Christmas that will tie him to the club until the end of the 2021/2022 season.

Jorge Sikora made his senior debut last season in the Leasing.com Trophy

Sikora, who played against Manchester City under-21s in the Leasing.com Trophy, said: "It is what every young player dreams of doing, signing their first professional contract, so I am very pleased.

"I have been here since I was an under-13, so it has been a good few years of hard work and I am really glad to have seen it pay off."

Shanks added: "I am really excited to get going and cannot wait to get out on the pitch and play football again after a long time off.

"I made my debut last summer against Liverpool in front of over 24,000 supporters and it was the best footballing moment of my life so far. I am desperate to build on that."

Connor Shanks came on against Liverpool in last summer's friendly at Valley Parade

Cousin-Dawson was equally delighted to put pen to paper with the Bantams.

He said: “It has been a long time coming but I am just happy to have got it done after a long break in play.

"I have been putting in a lot of hard work here for the past two years so it is a great feeling to have signed a professional contract."

Goal-scoring midfielder Scales said: "I would like to break into the first team this season and, hopefully, make a few appearances.

"If I manage to get a starting place, I will look to build on my performances, learn from the more experienced players and develop my game as much as possible."

Defender Finn Cousin-Dawson has signed a one-year pro contract

Academy manager Neil Matthews believes each of the players deserve their opportunity to make the step up.

He said: "We feel all four of these lads have a real chance in the game and I am pleased to see them taking the next step.

"They have all worked ever so hard to get where they are now, so it is exciting to see.

"It is brilliant for these lads to know there is a pathway into professional football, especially considering how well I know they work, every day.

"We have said to the players that there are no limits. We want them to go out with the right mindset and, if they can do that, who knows what they might be able to achieve?"

Kian Scales was a regular scorer from midfield for City's under-18s last season

Bantams boss Stuart McCall is thrilled to have welcomed the quartet into his first-team squad and is excited by the potential they are showing.

He added: "They are obviously four talented boys and we have been very happy with their performances when they have joined in with us.

"They all now have a year to impress and develop like we hope they can and become a big part of the club going forward."