Miles Leaburn signs three-year pro deal at Charlton – with five other teenagers also committing futures

Mile Leaburn has signed a three-year professional contract with Charlton Athletic – one of six academy scholars to put pen to paper.

The former Chelsea youth-teamer scored twice for the Addicks on Saturday in their 6-1 friendly victory at National League South club Dartford.

Seydil Toure, Matt Dench, Jason Adigun, Tolu Ladapo and Mack Reilly, who secured the Professional Development League 2 – South title in record time – have also signed up. They were all part of Hamza Serrar’s side which finished 14 points ahead of second-place Colchester United.

The newly-turned academy graduates join fellow second-year scholars Deji Elerewe and Tyreece Campbell in signing professional contracts.

Centre-back Elerewe, 18, broke into the senior set-up last season and made 11 appearances, gaining minutes in all four of the competitions the League One side were involved in.

Academy director Steve Avory said: “We feel that this was a talented group last season.

“We’ve taken on eight of them as professionals. Now that’s quite a large number, but such is the confidence that we have in these individuals being able to make the next step towards the Charlton first team. We now look forward to seeing where they go in the next leg of their development journey which, of course, is going to be at U23 level.

“All of these players are good people and we are proud of the way we develop players here into good people, as well as good footballers.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD