Home-grown Swans look forward to new season
9th July
Swansea City youngsters Aaron Lewis, Tom Dyson and Jack Evans have this week signed their first professional contracts with the club ahead of the 2016-17 campaign.
The home-grown trio, who have all been with the Academy since the age of nine, have each signed a one-year deal at the Liberty Stadium.
The group this week returned to Landore training ground to begin preparations for the new season with the Development squad, which includes a week long pre-season tour to Scotland.
Defender, Aaron Lewis, who broke into the Under-21s starting line-up last season, admits they are looking forward to the challenge of playing at a higher level.
"We are all extremely proud to have earned new deals and are looking forward to the next step. I can't wait to get started." He said.
"I have learned a lot in my first games with the Under-21s, the experience I gained will definitely help me this season."
Midfielder Tom Dyson admits that Wales internationals Joe Allen and Ben Davies, started their careers at Swansea City before playing key roles for the national side at Euro 2016 this summer, act as inspirations to all young players at the Academy hoping to make it to the next level.
"We are all inspired by what they have achieved," he continued. "It was not so long ago they were in our shoes, signing their first professional deals. Their hard work shows what can be achieved in the professional game. They are a huge inspiration and motivation for us."
The young Swans will this season face professional players from League One and Two following confirmation that 16 Category One Premier League Academy sides will be included in a revamped EFL Trophy.
Swansea-born midfielder Evans, who featured for the development squad during their 4-0 league win over Brighton last season believes the new competition format can only help develop younger players.
"It's an exciting prospect, we are looking forward to playing against professional players from League One and League Two.
"The games will hopefully be attended by a number of fans, so it will be great to play full professionals in front of a proper stadium atmosphere."
