League One side Exeter City offer Nigerian youngster Santino Ohanaka a youth scholarship

ENGLISH League One club Exeter City have won the race for the services of promising Nigerian teenager Santino Ohanaka who has signed a youth scholarship deal with the club due to be activated in July.

Ohanaka, an Anglo-Nigerian youngster, has been training with Exeter City youth teams since January 2023 and has played a couple of matches for their U18 side. Following the successful trials, the club decided to offer him a scholarship deal which will enable him to join their academy.

Over the last year or so, the he talented teenager held trials at a number of clubs in England before deciding to pick Exeter City over his other suitors. English Championship side Norwich City offered Ohanaka a schoolboy contract but he rejected it in favour of continuing his career at Exeter City, who offered him a scholarship.

During his trials at Exeter, Ohanaka was on target when they beat defeated Bristol Rovers U18s in a Merit League Two fixture in March.  Ohanaka is a versatile player who is comfortable being deployed as a winger and midfielder and has represented Tottenham Hotspur youth team in the past.

An Exeter City spokesman said: "We are delighted to announce that our U16s player Santino Ohanaka has signed a contract. Santino is a versatile player who can operate as a midfielder or as a winger and his development over the last few months with us has been outstanding, which was shown on the pitch through his performances.

"He featured in our televised live game and went on to trial at clubs before penning a deal at Exeter City. This is great achievement for Santino and we look forward to monitoring his progression."