Town have confirmed that youngsters Monty Patterson, Jacob Marsden, James Blanchfield, George Fowler, Chris Smith and Shane McLoughlin (pictured above, left to right) have all put pen to paper on one-year deals, which include an option for a further season.
Midfielder or striker Patterson, 19, is probably the most familiar name having helped New Zealand to the Oceania Nations Cup over the summer, after missing seven months of last season with a serious ankle injury.
Midfielder Blanchfield travelled with the senior side on a couple of occasions last season and was handed the number 43 squad number but didn’t break into a matchday 18.
The 18-year-old was with Arsenal’s youth set-up before joining the Blues in July 2014, having previously spent time on trial with Manchester United.
Central defender Fowler, also 18, who hails from Debenham, has been playing for the Blues’ U18s since he was 14.
Smith, another 18-year-old and a former Kesgrave High School pupil, is a midfielder or central defender who has been with the club since he was eight.
Irish U18 international midfielder McLoughlin, 19, joined the club in the summer of 2013. He was on the first-team bench for the first time for the FA Cup replay at Portsmouth.
Keeper Marsden, 19, has spent much of the last couple of seasons out with a knee injury but returned to action with the U21s during 2015/16.
Earlier this week keeper Michael Crowe, 20, and U21s skipper Joe Robinson, 19, also put pen to paper on new contracts, while midfielder Adam McDonnell, 19, is also close to signing a new deal, although Town have already taken up an option for a further season on his previous contract.
Photo: ITFC