Middlesbrough signed Brayden Johnson from Eastbourne Borough on Thursday.
Michael Carrick feels Brayden Johnson’s signing demonstrates how appealing Middlesbrough is to young players right now, and he intends to capitalise on it.
Johnson, 18, just joined Boro from National League South team Eastbourne Borough, where he excelled in his first season. Boro reportedly outbid Premier League and EFL clubs for the midfielder, who will join the under-21 squad first.
A fantastic story, the feisty midfielder was playing in the Northern League Division Two last season before being identified and signing a deal at Priory Lane following a trial. That amazing rise continues as he moves from the ninth tier to the second in just seven months, with a brief stint in tier six.
When Johnson arrived at Boro, Carrick commented, “It’s terrific for him. I met with him and his family for the first time yesterday, and you could tell how excited he was to be here. It’s a significant step for him and an excellent opportunity.
“As a club, we consider recruitment at all levels and age groups. It can be for the first team or for the long term and development. It’s a vital structure to maintain evolving and introducing fresh people into the organisation who we believe have great potential.
“That’s what we’re constantly watching out for. Brayden is another person we believe we can help if he continues to do the right things and opportunities present themselves. “It’s wonderful to have him here.”
Martin Carter, head of academy recruitment, has discovered Johnson as his latest find. He’s had a lot of success in recent years discovering young players from the capital who, more often than not, had to follow a different path in the game after dropping out of professional academies. Isaiah Jones was a prime example of this.
However, there are numerous London-born stars in Boro’s academy levels presently, with the opportunity that Boro offers young players being a very appealing fact for many young players that Boro scouts and approaches.
Asked why he feels Boro find it easy right now convince players on the move to Teesside, the head coach continued: “It’s difficult to answer when I sit on this side of the fence. We are what we are first and foremost – in the way we play, attempt to act, and treat our teammates. Players appear to love it, which adds to the appeal.
“It’s great to be able to bring in younger guys and give them opportunity. It’s not always the case [that players are so eager to join], but that’s the situation we’re in right now, and we have to make the most of it.”“In terms of the younger players, it’s a real positive to be in a position where we can bring them in and offer them opportunities. It’s not always the case [that players are so keen to join], but it’s the position we find ourselves in at the moment and we’ve got to make the most of it”
Leave a Reply