The First Pro Contract: A Defining Moment in a Young Career
Signing a first professional contract is more than a formal step – it’s the moment years of academy work, sacrifice and potential are officially recognised. For agents and agencies, it’s also where long-term career planning truly begins: structuring the pathway from academy promise to first-team football, international exposure and, eventually, major transfers.
In this edition of our young-pro series, we look at five emerging talents who have just signed their first professional deals – and the agencies standing beside them.
Teddie Bloomfield – Aston Villa & SEG Football
Who is Teddie Bloomfield?
England youth forward Teddie Bloomfield has signed his first professional contract with Aston Villa. The club’s academy profiles him as an emerging attacker with strong movement and an eye for goal.
Teddie Bloomfield is a 17-year-old, attack-minded left-back at Aston Villa who has been steadily rising through the club’s academy since arriving from Ipswich Town in 2022. Villa brought him in as a 14-year-old in what was reported at the time as a six-figure move, underlining how highly he was rated even then.
Since joining, Bloomfield has become a key figure in Villa’s youth setup. He played a major role for the Under-18s during their historic treble-winning campaign and has already stepped up to feature in Premier League 2, the Vertu Trophy and the UEFA Youth League. This season, he has also captained Richard Beale’s Under-18 side, showing leadership as well as quality on the pitch.
The club describes him as an attacking full-back with real energy, who loves to get forward but also relishes the defensive duels. At 17, he is already operating across multiple age groups, a clear sign of how much trust the academy staff have in his potential.
His exact market value is still emerging, but given his trajectory, position and minutes across several competitions, Bloomfield is firmly on the radar as one of Villa’s most exciting young prospects.
SEG Football’s role
SEG Football is one of Europe’s most established player agencies, trusted by top-level professionals across the major leagues. For Bloomfield, being represented by SEG means his next steps will be mapped out with a long-term vision: from consolidating his role in the academy and development squads, to potential loan spells at senior level, and ultimately pushing towards Premier League football.
Their job now is to make sure this first contract is just the opening chapter of a carefully managed career rather than the high point of a youth journey.
SEG Football summed up the moment on Instagram with a simple message:
“The recognition for hard work @tedblooms.10! Congratulations on your first pro contract with @avfcofficial! Keep going!”
Pathway & Next Steps
Bloomfield is expected to continue developing with Villa’s U21s, increasingly training with the first team. Under Unai Emery, Aston Villa has shown trust in young players, so Bloomfield’s next milestones could include matchday squads, cup minutes, and potentially future loan moves carefully managed by SEG.
Adin Delic – VfB Stuttgart & HCM Sports Management
Who is Adin Delić?
Adin Delić has signed his first professional contract with VfB Stuttgart. Projected primarily as an attacking talent, Delić has progressed through the club’s youth setup. A public market value is not yet available.
Agency & Representation
Delić is represented by HCM Sports Management, founded by Hasan Çetinkaya. Football agent Kadir Karakaya was pictured alongside him after negotiating the deal with VfB Stuttgart.
Pathway & Next Steps
Stuttgart’s academy has a strong record of developing defenders. Delić is likely to feature for the club’s second team in the German regional leagues, building experience before pushing for Bundesliga involvement. HCM Sports Management will shape his pathway via carefully chosen loans or internal promotion, depending on his progress.
Kaiquy Luiz – Cruzeiro & P&P Sport Management
Who is Kaiquy Luiz?
Brazilian forward Kaiquy Luiz has signed his first professional contract with Cruzeiro. He is emerging from the club’s famed youth setup at Toca da Raposa, known for producing technically gifted attackers. However, Kaiquy Luiz is a defender, with his height of 1.90m.
Agency & Representation
Kaiquy is represented by P&P Sport Management, founded by Federico Pastorello, an agency with a long history of deals across South America and Europe. Their presence in Brazil gives Kaiquy access to a strong network as he climbs toward Cruzeiro’s first team. “A well-deserved achievement and just the start of an exciting journey ahead”, the agency wrote via their Instagram profile.
Pathway & Next Steps
Kaiquy will aim to establish himself at U20 level before pushing into the senior squad. If he adapts quickly, he could see minutes in state competitions and later in Série A. P&P Sport Management will help decide when to prioritize domestic exposure and when to consider a move abroad.
Mamadou Diallo – Angers SCO & BS Group
Who is Mamadou Diallo?
Mamadou Diallo has signed his first professional contract with Angers SCO, running until 2028. The young defender is part of Angers’ strategy to build around promising academy talent.
Agency & Representation
Diallo is represented by BS Group, founded by Badou Sambagué, who were present as his first professional deal with Angers SCO was finalized. They believe that the future belongs to those who are ready early. Focus, humility, and belief will guide the way.
Pathway & Next Steps
Diallo is expected to gain experience with Angers’ reserve side in National 2, while training regularly with the first team. Angers has a track record of giving young defenders meaningful minutes, so Diallo’s integration plan may include cup appearances and gradual league exposure under BS Group’s guidance.
Diallo wrote on his Instagram account: “A dream coming true! Proud to sign my first professional contract with Angers SCO 🖤🤍
Thanks to the club for the confidence, to all the coaches and educators for the accompaniment, and especially to my family and relatives for the daily. strength.”
Freddy Bernal – Chelsea & Areté (Simon Bayliff, Jonathan Beckett & Joe Musker)
Who is Freddy Bernal?
Chelsea have confirmed that academy goalkeeper Freddy Bernal has signed his first professional contract with the club, a major milestone for the 17-year-old. Bernal joined the Blues at Under-8 level and has risen through the ranks at Cobham, underlining how highly he is regarded internally.
Ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, he signed his scholarship and quickly established himself as a regular starter for Chelsea’s U18s, while also breaking into the U21 matchday squads in Premier League 2 and the EFL Vertu Trophy. His progress hasn’t been limited to domestic competition either: Bernal has delivered standout performances in the UEFA Youth League, helping Chelsea to impressive wins over Bayern Munich, Benfica and Ajax.
On the international stage, he has been a regular in England’s youth setup, initially emerging with the U15s before advancing through the age groups. He featured at the U17 European Championship and later made his England U18 debut in September, marking the occasion with a win over Uzbekistan.
Bernal has already attracted serious attention from elsewhere. In 2025, Arsenal reportedly had a £1.25 million bid rejected for the teenager, as Chelsea moved to keep one of the most promising goalkeepers in their academy system.
Agency & Representation
Bernal is represented by Areté, with football agents Simon Bayliff (founder and CEO), Jonathan Beckett (Director and Head of Football) and Joe Musker overseeing the deal. Their focus will be on balancing elite development at Cobham with timely exposure to senior football.
Pathway & Next Steps
Chelsea’s academy is one of Europe’s most productive, and Bernal will continue to refine his game in a highly competitive environment. Over the next few seasons, Areté will likely work with Chelsea on a pathway that includes:
- Continued development in the U18 and U21 sides
- Pre-season involvement with the first team
- Carefully chosen loan spells to gain regular senior minutes
The long-term goal is clear: turn a promising prospect into a first-team-ready player in one of the world’s toughest leagues.
The Agencies Behind the Deals
SEG Football
A leading European agency with a strong footprint in the Premier League and major European leagues. SEG’s work with Bloomfield reinforces its ongoing role in nurturing emerging talents.
HCM Sports Management
A Germany-based agency active across the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga. Through Hasan Çetinkaya, HCM helps prospects like Adin Delić navigate the jump from academy football to the professional game.
P&P Sport Management
An experienced agency with deep roots in Brazil and Europe, P&P Sport Management is well-positioned to guide Kaiquy Luiz both in Série A and potentially on future European moves.
BS Group
A boutique agency with a focus on French and Francophone players, BS Group will be central to Mamadou Diallo’s long-term development at Angers SCO through 2028.
Areté
London-based Areté specializes in elite-level representation, working with young talents like Freddy Bernal to build structured pathways from academy football to the senior stage at clubs like Chelsea.
Market Values: Early Days, Big Potential
For many newly professional players, transfer databases take time to assign an initial market value after signing. As this series continues, we’ll revisit Teddie Bloomfield, Adin Delić, Kaiquy Luiz, Mamadou Diallo, and Freddy Bernal as:
- Their roles with first teams grow
- Market values are updated
- New milestones (debuts, goals, loan moves, international appearances) arrive
