Wolves record-breaker signs first professional contract

Record-breaking teenager Jerome Abbey has signed his first professional contract with boyhood club Wolves.

Abbey became Wolves’ youngest-ever Premier League player when he made his senior debut against Burnley in May, aged 16 years and 250 days.

The midfielder has since trained with Cesar Peixoto’s first team and featured during pre-season before being an unused substitute for the EFL Cup win at Port Vale.

Now, just days after turning 17, Abbey has committed his future to Wolves.

Academy director Jon Hunter-Barrett said: “We’re really delighted because Jerome’s been here a long time, coming right the way through the academy, and it’s a good news story for everyone involved.

“Jerome is a calm and consistent person and comes from a really good family, with his brothers being part of our academy previously, and that’s lived through Jerome and how he behaves on a daily basis.”

The England Under-17 international joined Wolves aged six and later signed schoolboy terms at the age of nine.

He progressed through the academy before being fast-tracked into the first team last season, all while studying for his GCSEs.

Abbey follows his brothers Jed and Jez in coming through Wolves’ academy.

His appearance at Turf Moor made him Wolves’ second-youngest player ever, behind Jimmy Mullen in 1939.

Abbey has missed the start of the under-21s’ season through injury but underwent minor surgery and is now nearing a return to action.

“He’s benefitted a tremendous amount from being around the first-team because you have to behave in the same way as them,” Hunter-Barrett continued.

“When we get the opportunity for our talented young players to get that experience, they’ve got to go in and do well, which is what he’s done, but then they have to also bring back the learnings that they've taken from that experience.

“The club’s been in existence since 1877 and so many things have come and gone, but his debut record is a monumental piece of history, and given how long he’s been here, and his family’s connections to the club, it's great all around.

“Retention is big piece in what we do - we have to deliver, and it is really difficult, not just for Wolves, but for everybody, up and down the country.

“So, the fact that he sees the opportunity here, enjoys the environment, enjoys being challenged and can see the progression, is credit to the academy staff that turn up every day.”