Sky Blues in SEVEN heaven as young guns are signed up
We are delighted to announce the Coventry City players who have signed their first professional contracts with the football club.
COVENTRY City have secured seven of the club’s Academy players on their first professional contracts as the Sky Blues continue to develop what they hope with be the first-team stars of the future.
Amongst the group of young talent is centre-forward Aidan Dausch, who made his senior debut for Mark Robins at the back end of last season with two substitute appearances from the bench against Blackburn and Ipswich.
The club said: “We are delighted to announce the Coventry City players who have signed their first professional contracts with the football club. The Sky Blues agreed terms with seven academy graduates, who will link-up with the Under-21s ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
“Tristen Batanwi, Elliot Betjemann, Aidan Dausch, Charlie Finney, Callum Perry, Daniel Rachel and Jayden Smith have all put pen-to-paper on a deal, becoming the latest crop of players to graduate through the Sky Blues Academy system.”
Tristen Batanwi: Born in Coventry, Batanwi joined the Sky Blues back in March 2016 when he was just 10 years old.
The left-back broke onto the scene for the Under-21s during the 2022/23 season, featuring regularly throughout the campaign.
However, in pre-season last year, Batanwi suffered an ACL injury in a clash against Nuneaton Borough, which ruled him out for the 2023/24 season.
Elliot Betjemann: Joined the Sky Blues Academy set-up back in March of 2022, after spending the previous eight years at West Brom.
The centremidfielder was part of the Sky Blues pre-season tour of 2023, as well as featuring in the pre-season victory over Forest Green Rovers.
Betjemann was an ever-present for the Under-21s last season, captaining the side on occasions.
Aidan Dausch: Joined the Sky Blues Academy when he was 15 years-old, following his departure from Luton Town.
He became the latest youngster to make his professional debut for Mark
Robins’ side, coming off the bench against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park last season and appeared at the Coventry Building Society Arena against Ipswich Town.
The striker was on the scoresheet throughout the 2023/24 campaign, finding the back of the net regularly for the Under-18s and the Under-21s. Charlie Finney: The 18-year-old central midfielder joined the Sky Blues back in September 2020 when he was 14.
Finney was previously on the books at Chesterfield, having spent just over a year with the newly promoted League Two side.
Charlie represented the Sky Blues across the Under-18s and Under-21s league campaigns, as well as the FA Youth Cup and Birmingham Senior Cup throughout the 2023/24 season.
Callum Perry: Joining from Birmingham City in 2019, Perry agrees his first professional contract, with plenty of experience under his belt already.
Perry spent a spell out on loan in the Northern Premier League, with AFC Rushden & Diamonds last season, featuring on four occasions.
Callum, who has played at centreback and left-back across the 2023/24 Professional Development League, will look to pick-up where he left ahead of the new season.
Daniel Rachel: The latest goalkeeper to graduate from the Sky Blues Academy, Rachel will look to battle it out with the Luke Bell next season in the Under-21s.
Rachel joined the Sky Blues set-up in January of 2020, when he was 13 years old.
Daniel has been a regular in the Under-18s over the last twelve months, featuring for the Under-21s on occasions.
Jayden Smith: Another player born and bred in Coventry, Smith completes a long journey through the Academy to sign his first professional contract.
Smith, along with Batanwi, joined the Sky Blues when he was 10 yearsold, rising through the ranks.
A defender, who has featured regularly at right-back throughout the 2023/24 campaign, he will look to kick-on once more next season.