Hartlepool United's England under-19 international goalkeeper Brad Young completes Leicester City move

The 19-year-old goalkeeper was set to join the Foxes following a successful trial with the club’s development squad earlier in the year with Pools boss Dave Challinor confirming to The Mail that the move was a ‘done deal’ last month.

Young joined Pools at the age of 13 and went on to be called up to the England under-19s squad and was capped in a 6-1 victory against Arsenal under-23s in March 2021.

But the teenager leaves Pools without making a competitive first team appearance following loan spells at Blyth Spartans and Billingham Town over the past two seasons.

The goalkeeper was previously linked with a move to Chelsea following a trial during the 2019-20 campaign with a six-figure transfer fee being reported.

Leicester City’s transfer fee for Young remains undisclosed but will be a welcome financial boost to Pools and manager Dave Challinor ahead of the new League Two season.

Following the transfer, Challinor told the club website: “Everyone at the club wishes Brad all the best with his move.

"As a young player with lots of potential, although Brad was on a long term contract with the club, this opportunity is one that suits everyone at this time and gives him personally a great chance to fulfil that potential at a Premier League club.

“It’s been well documented that he has been out on trial at several clubs with a host of other clubs also showing interest but Leicester were the ones who came up with a deal that suited the club.

"Once that happened that was the place Brad wanted to be.

"It’s been a difficult couple of years for him in terms of games as the loans he had would have undoubtedly benefited him and got him closer to our first team but COVID, unfortunately, put pay to that.

“What this has meant though is that he’s spent more time working with Ross, who has been brilliant with him, has had time away with England and has spent time in different environments at other clubs.

"These experiences will undoubtedly stand him in really good stead moving forward. We will all keep an eye on his progress and hope that he flourishes in his new surroundings.”

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