HIGHLY-rated Cherries youngster Harold William has been handed a long-term contract.

William stepped into the development squad this season, after joining the Cherries following his release from Charlton Athletic.

The second-year scholar has impressed on the south coast, playing a starring role as an athletic and versatile defender in the FA Youth Cup run to the fifth-round last season.

The 17-year-old is still eligible to play for the U18s, but he has featured for Alan Connell’s development squad team in the Premier League Cup, Professional Development League and Hampshire Senior Cup.

He is eligible to play for Nigeria through his father Kingsley and has featured prominently for the Cherries as a centre back this season.

(Image: AFC Bournemouth) William, from Leytonstone in East London, told afcb.co.uk: “I am delighted to sign my first professional contract. It’s a good moment for me, my family and everyone that has helped me get through.

“Playing for the development squad has been very intense. I was involved in the pre-season tour to Spain and we played some good teams.

“I am also getting used to the style of play. It’s full-on, press, press, press and intense. It demands a lot.

“The quality of the opposition is high as well. Other teams can have first-team players and older players, while in the youth team you only play against people of the same age.

“As the games are full-on, there is a huge emphasis on how you recover. You can train and play two very good teams in a week so you need to know how to recover.”

(Image: AFC Bournemouth) AFC Bournemouth development squad manager Alan Connell said: “Since Harold came in at 16 from Charlton, we have been really pleased with how he has progressed and the potential he has shown.

“He had a really good year with the under-18s last season and was also involved with the development squad, without playing too many games.

“We always had it in our minds that we wanted to promote him early and get him playing up an age group during the second year of his scholarship.

“He has performed really well which has helped us make the decision to offer him an early professional contract and we are delighted he has agreed.

“We are all really excited to continue to work with Harold and help him realise his potential.”