In order to be a true member of Stoke City’s first team the next season, Sol Sidibe is being prepared. Yesterday at St George’s Park, the 17-year-old midfielder earned his debut for the England under-18s in a 4-2 friendly victory over Northern Ireland.
He needs to wait for that cap, although he is playing above his age group. Though he was raised in Stoke-on-Trent, where his father Mama was a Stoke promotion hero, he has only just become a British citizen. He has previously carried a French passport.
He has been on Stoke’s books since he was at primary school, supports the club and has long been eyed as a potential star. Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United are reported to have been among his suitors over the years, but he, his family and their advisers have seen a pathway at the bet365 Stadium.
He made his Stoke debut at the age of 16 years and 176 days in August last year – as a substitute in a 4-1 opening day win over Rotherham – and became the second youngest player ever to make a league appearance for the club. He is club’s third youngest player in all competitions, behind Emre Tezgel and Peter Bullock.
There were a couple of injuries and illness but he still made eight first team appearances, including seven before he turned 17 in February. He ended the season on the pitch too, coming off the bench in a 4-0 final day win over Bristol City. He has been standing out for the under-21s in Premier League 2 too.
Links have emerged recently about interest from across the UK and Europe. The Daily Mail suggested that Chelsea, Rangers and AC Milan “were keeping an eye on Sidibe’s situation” while Foot Mercato, in France, have claimed there is interest from Chelsea, Juventus, Rangers, Monaco and Brighton.
But Steven Schumacher has Sidibe as part of his senior plans and the teenager will be reporting with the first team when pre-season starts at Clayton Wood this summer.
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