It’s that sad time of the season where we have to report on departures from the academy, and another one has been announced today by Nathan Gissing.
He claims that versatile defender, now 19, will leave the club after 10 years when his contract expires at the end of this month.
Abu signed for us way back at under 11 level in 2012 after being spotted in a youth tournament in Spain, and has been a regular in almost every age group team since then.
Gissing says that the 19 year old had plenty of interest from Germany, where he was born, and Holland, but has decided to go with Southampton, recently relegated and with a strong record of improving talented young English players.
We’ve yet to see Derrick in senior games as he has not had a loan yet, but like all players who come the whole way through the Cobham academy he will be very polished and it’s no surprise there was so much interest in him.
Good luck, Derrick!