Crystal Palace have added two players to their development squad this week, with England under-17 international Nya Kirby putting pen to paper on his first professional contract, and Nikola Tavares signing a deal to join up permanently with Richard Shaw’s squad.
Kirby, who has just celebrated his 17th birthday, has made five appearances in midfield for the Eagles’ development team so far this season, and was most recently on Tottenham Hotspur’s books before linking up with Palace at the start of the campaign.
Centre-back Tavares, 18, has impressed for the club’s under-18s and under-23 sides on trial, and made 10 appearances this term before securing a contract. A former Croatia under-18 international, he was most recently with Brentford’s academy and has also represented South African side Hellenic FC.
Meanwhile, defender Jason Akiotu has had his contract with the club mutually terminated, and we would like to wish him well in his future endeavours.