TEENAGER Luca Picotto is set to add his name to Jersey’s Fulham FC ‘success story’ in 2023, after being offered a fulltime contract.

The former Victoria College student, who moved to London at the age of 14, is guaranteed another two seasons with the Premier League club from July, having become the fourth Island player in six years to earn an under-18 scholarship.

He follows in the footsteps of Marlon Fossey, Luke Harris and Callum Osmand, who have all benefited from Fulham’s academy system since Fossey signed his first full-time deal in 2016.

And, like Harris and Osmand, 15-yearold Picotto has represented Wales at agegroup level – scoring on his debut for the U16s in October.

‘Marlon, Luke and Callum all went through the same pathway, became scholars and are gradually moving onwards and upwards,’ said Malcolm Elias, Fulham’s head of talent ID. ‘Hopefully Luca will be the same.

‘He has a great attitude – he’s keen to be the best he can be and he’s driven in that respect – and he’s versatile. He’s had to play in quite a number of positions for us and where he will end up is anybody’s guess. He’s naturally left footed but he can play on the right, as a number ten and at left-back as well. We’ve taken him on based on his potential and his game understanding.

‘Luca has followed Luke and Callum into the Wales U16 team and the coaches there think a lot of him. He’s in a good place, like every player who gets a scholarship, but the challenge is ahead of him.

The work starts now.’ Elias, who is credited with unearthing the likes of Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott as juniors, visits Jersey regularly to assess local talent.

‘It’s another Jersey-Fulham success story and I don’t think the work that Brian Oliver [JFA football development manager], Paul Renton [JFA Performance Centre manager] and their staff do should be underestimated. Once again they’ve done a fantastic job in getting a player prepared for full-time football, which is no easy thing to achieve.’ Harris, who has made two Premier League appearances off the bench in recent months, signed his first senior contract while fellow U18 star Osmand is midway through his scholarship.

Fossey left the club earlier this year to join Belgian Pro League side Standard Liége.