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Vital Football Legend
Blackpool Football Club can confirm that young defender Charlie Penman has joined Brighton and Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee, with the Club also retaining a financial interest in his future.
The academy player joins the Seagulls after progressing through the ranks at Blackpool, going on to represent the U18’s at just 15 years of age back in January.
Despite the Club’s best efforts to keep one of the brightest talents to come through the academy in recent years, Penman heads to the south coast after the two clubs agreed a substantial fee for his transfer.
Academy Director Ciaran Donnelly said:
“The Club did everything possible to secure Charlie’s long-term future at Blackpool, but his performances across a range of age groups over the past 12 months has brought about much interest from some of the biggest clubs in the country.
“We are naturally disappointed to lose such a talented youngster in Charlie, who has been with the Club since he was nine-years-old. We have had an excellent long-standing relationship with Charlie and his parents, and this was an incredibly difficult decision for them to come to, considering the progress the Club continues to make.
“Even though we have lost a talented player to a Premier League side, we continue to build on the progress already made in the academy, with many talented youngsters coming through who can hopefully one day go on to represent the first-team.”
The academy player joins the Seagulls after progressing through the ranks at Blackpool, going on to represent the U18’s at just 15 years of age back in January.
Despite the Club’s best efforts to keep one of the brightest talents to come through the academy in recent years, Penman heads to the south coast after the two clubs agreed a substantial fee for his transfer.
Academy Director Ciaran Donnelly said:
“The Club did everything possible to secure Charlie’s long-term future at Blackpool, but his performances across a range of age groups over the past 12 months has brought about much interest from some of the biggest clubs in the country.
“We are naturally disappointed to lose such a talented youngster in Charlie, who has been with the Club since he was nine-years-old. We have had an excellent long-standing relationship with Charlie and his parents, and this was an incredibly difficult decision for them to come to, considering the progress the Club continues to make.
“Even though we have lost a talented player to a Premier League side, we continue to build on the progress already made in the academy, with many talented youngsters coming through who can hopefully one day go on to represent the first-team.”
