Bolton Wanderers have signed former Norwich City midfielder Nelson Khumbeni and ex-Reading youngster Lynford Sackey to the club's B team.
The pair, who are both 19, will start life with Wanderers as part of the B squad introduced this season as a potential stepping stone to the senior squad. They are the first external recruits to the club's new second string, which will play in the EFL Central League and also a series of hand picked friendlies over the coming campaign in a bid to make it to the Whites' first team.
The B team managed by Matt Craddock reports for pre-season training next week and the duo will link up with Wanderers' new second string then. Sackey, who has played as a full-back and in a more attacking right-sided position, progressed through the Academy system at Reading to earn a professional deal with the Championship club and made two senior appearances for the Royals.
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He said: “Reading have done a lot for me but I’m glad this opportunity has come. I’m really looking forward to it. I had some interest elsewhere but I felt plan-wise and ethics-wise here was the perfect place for me to come to and I’m really glad Bolton have given me the opportunity to come here.
“Some of the staff at Reading talked to me about Bolton and it’s a good place to be at the moment. I’m looking forward to being part of the journey and going up and up.”
Khumbeni had been at Norwich since the age of eight and impressed during training and a trial game at Wanderers at the end of last season. A technical, defensive midfield player comfortable in possession, he is now looking to take the next career step with Wanderers after featuring in last season's Papa John's Trophy with the Canaries.
He said: “Norwich has been a good place to develop and learn my craft and I’m looking forward to kicking on here at Bolton to grow as a person and grow as a player. Being at a place for so long, you maybe need a change of environment in order to improve and realise this is what you’d like to do.
“I came over here and loved everything I’ve seen. The stadium is amazing, the training ground is a good place to improve as a player and everyone has been welcoming.
“A lot of young players have had a chance here with the manager trusting them and putting a lot of faith in them. The team is trying to go onwards and upwards and it’s probably the best time for me coming here.”
