Town Offer US Winger Yao Contract
Friday, 27th Nov 2009 10:37

Town boss Roy Keane has revealed that American winger Devann Yao has been offered a contract after impressing on trial. TWTD was first to reveal that the 19-year-old was with the Blues on Saturday.

Keane says the club are talking to Yao about a deal after he played a starring role in the reserves draw with Celtic on Wednesday: “He did very well. He trained with us for the previous few days and showed a lot of energy.

“He was involved in the first goal and scored the second. If you’re a trialist and you draw 2-2 with Celtic and you’ve had a hand in two goals, you should be fairly pleased. We’re hoping to do something with him.”

Yao was born in New York to an Ivorian father, who played football professionally in France, and an Italian mother. He was given a scholarship by the United Sports Foundation as an 11-year-old, who organised a place for him at the private Montgomery School ,during which time he also spent time training with both Manchester United and Arsenal.

At 13 Yao, who is trilingual, joined French side Metz’s youth academy, where he spent three seasons. A year in Italy playing in reserves sides at Livorno and Pisa was followed by a short spell in Scotland with St Mirren’s youth set-up before he returned to the US, where he has spent time on trial with the New York Red Bulls.

Yao mother’s Italian heritage means he is entitled to an EU passport and therefore will not have to qualify for a work permit.

Photo: Action Images

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BlueBoots added 15:09 - Nov 27 "Devann Yao!!! De-e-vann Yao!!! He comes from America, and he's gonna score goals!" Welcome aboard, Devann :^D
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arc added 15:22 - Nov 27 I'm excited. He should have at least as much impact as Colin Healy.
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Farmers_Union added 19:01 - Nov 27 Keano said in interview.... "I have considerably... more money... than Yao!!" COYB
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dirtydingusmagee added 11:22 - Nov 28 TRILINGUAL, means he can score with all three legs ! yaaaaaaooooooooo.
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Tractorog added 22:33 - Nov 28

A few people need to calm down. In a couple of years time he will be playing regular first time footy, but not at 19.
He looks promising and if (and it is a big if) he can knuckle down - he will have a great future.
A kid who has grown up like this without parents around is going to make a few mistakes along the way ... so frankly the fact he has got this far and persisted means he deserves his big break.

I suspect the crowd will chorus something about "ee i ee i Yao" when he scores.