'A dream' - Newcastle United confirm double deal for former Wolves & Birmingham pair

Newcastle United academy duo Trevan Sanusi and Leo Shahar have both penned professional contracts.

The highly-rated youngsters, who joined from Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively last summer, have featured for the Magpies’ under-21s and represented England under-17s in recent months.

‘A dream come true’ - Sanusi

Sanusi - who celebrated his 17th birthday last month - is a versatile winger and reportedly attracted interest from the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City before moving to Tyneside.

“It’s overwhelming and a dream come true to sign my first professional contract as I’ve been working for it for my whole life,” Sanusi told newcastleunited.com. “I’m really excited to keep pushing on and prove to everyone who gave me that contract.

“I stayed humble and didn’t expect it. I kept working hard until I got the contract, which I have now, but I’ll keep on working and won’t be stopping.

“I see a very good pathway in the Academy and trying to make it into the first-team. I back myself to play as well as possible and try to do that, following in the footsteps of those who have done so this season.”

Shahar - ‘I’ve been getting great opportunities’

Shahar, who primarily plays as a right-back, spent 10 years at Wolves before joining Newcastle. The 17-year-old is hopeful of following in the footsteps of Kieran Trippier and Tino Livramento.

He added: “Seeing the likes of Trippier and Livramento playing well for the first-team makes me want to thrive and try to get into a similar position that they are in. The fans love those two and I want to push on to try and get into that spot. I’m going to work as hard as I can everyday on the training pitch to get to that spot.

“Signing my first professional contract is everything I have dreamt of since I was a kid. To get that opportunity at such a big club like Newcastle United is outstanding and I’m hoping to keep pushing on.

“I’ve been getting great opportunities with the under-21s this season as well as playing in the UEFA Youth League and representing England (at under-17 level) so I thought that was such a big reason in wanting to commit my future here."

What Newcastle’s academy director said

Meanwhile, academy director Steve Harper said: "We are delighted to secure both Trevan and Leo to their first professional deals.

"Being in a position to compete nationally to sign such young players shows how much the club value young talent and we really appreciate the backing of the Board.

"Through the hard work of everyone involved and support of the ownership, we are now in a position to provide a high level of staffing, programme and a pathway to allow young players to develop. The opportunity is there, now it's up to the boys.

"We look forward to announcing further first professional contracts over the next couple of months."