Arsenal have officially announced that academy teenager Ben Sheaf has signed a new contract with the club, as per Arsenal’s official website.
The North London club signed the youngster in 2014 from West Ham and he has since gone on to become a crucial part of the Gunners U-23 team.
The 18-year-old has been a regular starter this season in Premier League 2 having made 12 appearances already.
The youngster scored four goals in all competitions so far, assisting 2 times in 30 appearances for Steve Gatting’s side.
Sheaf was originally signed as a central midfielder but the Englishman has since adapted to play at right-back and also as a central defender.
Here is the official statement:
One of our most exciting young talents – Ben Sheaf – has signed a new contract.
The England Under-18 international plays in defence or midfield, and has been a regular in Steve Gatting’s under-23 team for the past two seasons.
Ben joined us from West Ham in 2014.
The midfielder was part of Arsenal’s squad which won the Durban under-19 international in 2015 and was named Player of the Tournament after scoring three goals.
Sheaf is composed on the ball and can trigger attacks with his varied range of passing. The youth star is an excellent reader of the game and is sound defensively while also being capable of breaking opposition counter attacks.
He has been on the cusp of Gunners first-team for a while now, training with the squad and making the bench for the EFL Cup fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Reading.
The youngster will look to make his senior debut next season, with the Gunners or at a loan elsewhere. His versatility is a major asset and going by his quick growth so far, it seems we’ll see him on the fringes of the first team sooner than expected.
Congrats Ben!
