Jay Robinson, a promising talent from Southampton’s youth academy, secured his future with the club by signing a new four-year contract. The 18-year-old made his Premier League debut in the final minutes against Aston Villa, marking a significant milestone in his burgeoning career.
Robinson has been with Southampton since the age of 12, progressing through the ranks and making a name for himself in the Premier League 2 with seven goals and two assists this season. His performances also earned him a debut for England’s Under-18s against France last month.
Johannes Spors, Southampton’s Group Technical Director, emphasized the significance of Robinson’s journey through the academy.
Johannes Spors said: “Jay has been part of a long journey through the Academy. I would like to thank Andy Goldie and the whole Academy team for their continued hard work behind the scenes. I’m excited. It’s a big milestone, making my debut and then signing my new contract a few days later. They’ve had lots of conversations with me, and the club trust in me. It’s really good, helping me improve, I’m learning a lot.”
Interim manager Simon Rusk, who had previously managed Robinson at the Under-21 level, expressed his confidence in the young forward’s abilities.
Simon Rusk said: “I put Jay on the pitch, and we put him on the pitch of this football club because we trust him. When you’re a younger player and you’re stepping into the environment of Premier League games, trust is a big thing. When we put someone in that environment, it’s because we trust them. We trust that they’ll make good decisions. We trust that they’ll be mentally resilient in bursts at the right time. Then we’ll learn about them in turn. Making a debut is always a really nice moment. I thought when Jay came on, he showed some nice touches, some glimpses. I think he can be delighted with that. It was a positive. I think it’s really important that we always find a balance of looking for what was ok and what wasn’t great.”
Robinson’s development has been closely monitored, and he is now a regular participant in first-team training sessions at Staplewood. As he looks to impress club officials, Robinson aims to cement his place in the squad ahead of the next season in the Championship.
This new contract not only highlights Southampton’s faith in Robinson’s potential but also underscores their commitment to nurturing homegrown talent. With his recent debut and a long-term contract in hand, Robinson is poised to become a key figure for the Saints in the years to come.
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