Five sign first professional contracts with United

Dylan Stephenson, Lucas De Bolle, Josh Scott, Nathan Carlyon and Joe Oliver - all boyhood Magpies supporters - have agreed full-time deals after progressing from the club's Little Benton Academy.

Stephenson joined United at the age of 14 from Newcastle City Juniors and scored four goals in Newcastle United Under-18s' run to the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals last term, netting a hat-trick against Leeds United in the fourth round.

"It's a proud moment for me and my family," he told nufc.co.uk. "I've grown up supporting Newcastle all my life so I'm very happy to sign my first professional contract with them.

"Scoring a first-half hat-trick against Leeds (in the FA Youth Cup) was one of my main highlights last season. I helped my team progress to the next round and I took a lot of confidence from it. 

"Playing games at under-23 level was important for me too and you can see the change in pace, tempo and physicality compared to playing for the under-18s. It gives me momentum and I'll be looking to carry on from last season. I'm buzzing to get going!" 

De Bolle, who was born in Edinburgh before relocating to Newcastle at the age of 13, is a midfielder who also caught the eye in the Magpies' FA Youth Cup campaign, producing a goal and assist against Watford in round five at St. James' Park.

"I'm really honoured to sign my first professional contract," said the 18-year-old. "I'm very excited for it because it's for a club I've supported for so long. I've watched so many first-team games at St. James' Park and I'm very excited to get started.

"I had a season ticket when I was around nine or ten years old and I'd go to all the home games with the old Newcastle shirts on, supporting them from a young age.

"The experience I gained from playing in the under-23s and reaching the quarter-finals of the Youth Cup helped me develop a lot.

"I went up against older players, better players, and I was able to improve mentally to keep up with the older players and what the physicality levels need to be at for next season and to keep progressing through the age groups.

"I want to keep getting many opportunities and play as many games as possible."

Scott is a left-back who hails from Gateshead and studied at Heworth Grange School. Equally capable in attack as defence, the full-back is hoping to emulate Paul Dummett's path from Little Benton to the Premier League.

"He has progressed from the Academy into the first-team," said the young defender, who scored in United's FA Youth Cup quarter-final defeat against Aston Villa. "He got his experience out on loan before becoming a regular with Newcastle so that's who I would look up to. That's what I hope to do myself.

"All the hard work I've put in throughout the years to keep getting the new contracts year after year has been building towards this professional one. All the years of training everyday as a kid and the commitments and sacrifices I've made to get this contract is every lad's dream.

"Being brought up in Newcastle and watching all the games makes it extra special and hopefully I can kick on from here.

"I thought last season was a good one for me as I was playing for the under-23s and getting experience at a young age. The managers know what I am capable of doing so it's just about kicking on next season."

(From left to right: Lucas De Bolle, Dylan Stephenson, Josh Scott, Nathan Carlyon, Joe Oliver)

Carlyon is a midfielder who joined United's youth system at the age of eight after playing football for Beamish FC at junior level. An admirer of Yohan Cabaye and Fernando Torres growing up, the youngster admitted he "wore a headband for Beamish" in comparison to the Spanish striker.

The teenager, who bids to follow in the footsteps of the Longstaff brothers, was nominated for the Under-18 Premier League Goal of the Season for his long-range strike against Leeds United and was also put forward by the club as United's Scholar of the Year.

"I was over the moon when I heard the goal was up for the nomination," Carlyon said. "I'd practiced striking the ball from the halfway line during pre-season which gave me the confidence to try it against Leeds. 

"I'm delighted to be offered my first professional contract with the club I have been at for over ten years. I've always been confident that if I work hard and continue to develop that I would become a professional one day. 

"Sean and Matty have done everything that I set out to do. From young lads in the academy all the way through to taking their chance in the first-team.

"I always want every Newcastle player to do well but even more so the players who come through the academy. Both brothers are idols and hopefully one day I can be in the same squad/team as them.

Oliver is a right-back who was a virtual ever-present for United's under-18 squad throughout last season and is relishing making the step into under-23s football.

"I'm really looking forward to playing for the under-23s because you're no longer playing against players who are the same age or a year older. You're playing against players who are up to five years older which is a massive challenge.

"Hopefully, I can secure a starting eleven spot at right-back and impress the coaches during pre-season and provide consistent performances.

"Signing my first professional contract at Newcastle means a lot especially because I've grown up in South Shields and have always supported the club.

"I've been at the club for seven years now and a pro contract is always the long-term goal when you join an academy anywhere so I'm proud of myself for achieving that goal but now have to focus on getting the next one."

Winger Adam Wilson and teenage goalkeeper Will Brown have also signed new deals with United ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.