Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers have completed the signing of England-born Zimbabwean teenage striker Leon Chiwome from League One outfit AFC Wimbledon after the two clubs agreed an undisclosed fee.
The 16-year-old, who is a forward, is the latest highly-rated talent to come through the academy with the League Two side even though he had yet to feature for the first team which was understandable due to his age.
Chiwome only joined Wimbledon just over a year ago but his form for the youth sides caught the eye of the Premier League side, with his move announced by his former club on Saturday.
AFC Wimbledon Academy Manager Michael Hamilton said: “For Leon to join a Premier League club, following the departures of other players and staff to higher levels, is a measure of the quality and potential we’ve developed here.
“Leon has applied himself correctly since day one, and he has huge potential. If he continues to apply himself, there’s every chance of him fulfilling his ambitions in the future.
“We wish Leon every success and we will be monitoring his progress closely. Though he wasn’t here long, his potential was obvious from the outset, but he made clear development thanks to the work of Jack Matthews, James Oliver-Pearce, Hasib Saeed and Ben Fosuhene (Academy Head of Talent ID).”
The teenager, who was born in England to a Zimbabwean father and a British month, will link up with the development squad at Molineux and hope to force his way into the first team in the years to come.
Chiwome joined AFC Wimbledon in May last year having come through the development ranks of Alfold Football Club in Surrey, England. Prior to joining Wimbledon, the young striker had three academies offer him eight-week trials and he choose Brighton & Hove Albion where he had a stint at their academy.