Wolves have completed the signing of Dani Angel, with the forward linking up with Richard Walker’s under-18s at Compton Park.
Formally of Eagles United and Clapton FC in London, Angel also has futsal experience with Valencia between 2017 and 2020, and now comes into a professional environment for the first time.
Angel follows the footsteps of the likes of Minkyu Ji, Tom Edozie and Fabian Reynolds, all of which were signed into the scholarship programme from non-league or grassroots.
Academy manager for football, Jon Hunter-Barrett, said: “Dani’s another player we identified through our recruitment team and then came on trial with us. In a short period of time he really impressed us with his enthusiasm, drive and ability and creativity to finish in front of goal.
“It’s always difficult coming into a category one Premier League club and working at the same intensity as the rest of the lads, but now he’s got an opportunity to prove himself.
“He’ll get opportunities just like every other player does within the programme. Ultimately, it’s going to be down to him now to prove himself that he can play at this level.”
With the club always open to exploring a variety of avenues to source and recruit new talent, head of UK academy recruitment, Harry Hooman, has explained more behind the process of securing Angel’s signature.
“Dani is a pacy forward who wants to run in behind and score goals,” Hooman said. “He will give our under-18s group something different and is coming in with a hunger to improve and show us what he can do at a higher level.
“He will take some time to adjust having not been at a professional club before, but we feel he has the raw attributes we can nurture and develop. He had other Premier League interest and offers so we are happy he has chosen Wolves.
“We now have a number of players within our under-18s group who came into academy football late. The likes of Minkyu, Tom Edozie and Fabian Reynolds amongst others, all of which came to us at 16 from grassroots or non-league clubs. It is something we are always looking at – players who may have been missed but have the raw attributes, talent or potential we can develop in our environment.
“Since Brexit, the competition for the best academy players has increased significantly. With this in mind it is important we are prepared to look where others may not, players under the radar who we feel could flourish given the opportunity in our environment.”
