Former Bristol Rovers starlet completes move to Sheffield United

Defender Miguel Freckleton has today completed his move to Championship outfit Sheffield United.

Freckleton hails from Bristol and had been involved at both Bristol Rovers and Bristol Inner City before his move to Bramall Lane.

The Blades fought off competition from Championship rivals Cardiff City and Hull, as well as Premier League outfit Southampton to secure his services.

He had been on trial with Sheffield United and played a few games before his move and impressed bosses enough to give him a deal.

Freckleton is not expected to feature for the first-team straight away and instead could feature for the Under-23’s team which plays in the Professional Development League.

Upon signing for the Yorkshire club, he said: "Delighted to have signed my first professional contract with Sheffield United. It’s been a long journey to get here but the work doesn’t stop now."

The 18-year-old had most recently been playing for Mangotsfield, making eight appearances and his performances earned him his first professional deal.

Before dropping into the non-league, Freckleton was on the books of Rovers as a teenager but left in his early teenage years.

Still keen to pursue a career in football, he joined Bristol Inner City, a football academy run by former Leeds United and Forest Green Rovers manager David Hockaday.

They were one of the first to wish him well at his new club, congratulating him on Twitter.

The tweet said: “Congratulations to our former player Miguel Freckleton on signing his first pro contract with Sheffield United.

“A member of our 2018 Junior Premier League national u15 title winning team and Iber Cup finalists. Proof that patience and perseverance pays off. Well done Migs.”

He was also a student at the South Gloucestershire and Stroud College and joins Kasper Lopata as the second player to join United.