Huddersfield Town Academy duo Michael Acquah and Fope Deru commit future
- Michael Acquah and Fope Deru sign first pro contracts
- Both deals run until 2024 with a Club option for 2025
- Comments from Huddersfield Town Academy Head Jon Worthington
We are delighted to announce that Huddersfield Town U19 duo Michael Acquah and Fope Deru have signed their first professional contracts with the Club!
Both still just 18-years-old, the pair joined independently of one another in the summer of 2021 and have impressed within the Huddersfield Town Academy programme.
Michael Acquah, a goalkeeper, has had a rapid rise at the Club, already making appearances within the B Team and training with the First Team on a semi-regular basis. Having arrived from Southend Manor Farm, he originally signed a scholar, with his progression earning him his first professional contract.
Fopefoluwa Deru, who goes by Fope and plays from the wing, quickly stood out in the U17 side upon joining our Academy before progressing to U19 level. An exciting, positive, attack-minded player, Fope has an insatiable work rate and real drive on and off the pitch, which has been key in him achieving this first professional deal.
Huddersfield Town Academy Head Jon Worthington commented:
“It’s really positive news for the Club to have both Michael and Fope continuing to progress with us over the next few years. As individuals, they’ve each earned this opportunity, and I’m really pleased for them as they sign their first professional contracts – that’s a milestone in every player’s career.
“As this season so far has demonstrated only too well, having a strong Academy to support our First Team is essential to the success of our Club as a whole. With the likes of Michael and Fope pushing themselves through our programme and rising through our levels to make an impression on the B Team, that gives extra motivation to the players above them to do the same.
“I know both Michael and Fope well and each is a credit to themselves and their families with the manner in which they conduct themselves each day, and set a real example of how to behave and what to demand from yourself to thrive in this environment. They know they have a long way remaining to go, but if they continue in the way they currently are, this will only be the start of two successful professional careers.”
