Academy second-year left-back Joe Whight has signed the two-year professional contract which he was offered in April. Whight, 17, broke into the first team squad towards the end of last season, appearing on the bench three times but without making his debut.
The former Copleston schoolboy, who has been with the club since he was 12, was pleased to put pen to paper: "I'm obviously delighted to have signed and hopefully it shows I am heading in the right direction.
"I was on the bench a couple of times at the end of last season and that gave me a taste of what it's like.
"Once or twice I thought I might have got on and I didn't want the season to end really because I was enjoying it so much and learning so much as well.
"When you are training with the first team and you are around the players and staff, you are picking up so much.
"It's just a great education and now it's down to me to impress the manager as much as I can and push for a place in the first team. That's the challenge for me."
Last month Newcastle United and Arsenal were reported to be keeping an eye on Whight’s progress with the Blues.
Photo: ITFC