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.