Wigan Athletic youngster signs first professional contract: ‘We are all excited to see what the future holds’

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Wigan Athletic academy product Elijah Igiehon has signed his first professional contract with the club.

His impressive progress has seen him rewarded with a long-term deal at the end of his first year as a scholar.

The wide midfielder has enjoyed a remarkable 12 months at the newly-named The Brick Community Stadium, having helped Latics Under-16s win the Professional Development League Cup for the first time in the club's history this time last year before establishing himself as a regular in Marc Maddocks' Under-18s side in 2023/24.

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Wigan Athletic academy product Elijah Igiehon has signed his first professional contract with the clubWigan Athletic academy product Elijah Igiehon has signed his first professional contract with the club
Wigan Athletic academy product Elijah Igiehon has signed his first professional contract with the club

At the age of just 16, he has already featured for the club’s Under-21s outfit on many occasions, memorably scoring his first goal for the club's senior academy side in the Central League Cup victory against an experienced Barrow B outfit.

A player said to have huge potential, his strengths include a combination of speed, skill and end product, which has seen manager Shaun Maloney reward the winger with call-ups to training sessions with the first team.

Igiehon has now committed his future by signing his first professional deal at a place where he began his journey and rose through the ranks as a 13-year-old.

On the young prospect’s new long-term contract, academy manager Jake Campbell said: "We are absolutely delighted to see Elijah sign his first professional contract with the club.

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"Since joining our academy at U13s, Elijah has been a consistently high performer, and he has taken this progress into the first year of his apprenticeship, performing well for the U18s and U21s.

"Elijah is an exciting wide player, who combines speed and agility with an ability on the ball to go past defenders off either side.

"He complements this with a good end product, and we are all excited to see what the future holds for him.”

Meanwhile, midfielder Michael Olakigbe becomes the club’s first summer signing ahead of the 2024/25 League One season, joining on a season-long loan from Premier League side Brentford.

The 20-year-old England youth international, who has made 12 first-team appearances for the Bees, follows goalkeeper Sam Tickle in committing his immediate future to Wigan Athletic.

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