Forest Green boss Robbie Savage believes Stoke City prospect Sydney Agina opted to join Rovers ahead of clubs at a higher level because of the club’s strong reputation for nurturing young talent.
The highly-rated 18-year-old defender arrives at the New Lawn after making five Championship appearances for Stoke last season, while also earning senior international recognition with Kenya, making his debut as a substitute in a recent friendly against Lesotho.
Agina joins Forest Green with an exciting reputation and will strengthen Savage’s defensive options ahead of the new season, providing competition alongside Tre Pemberton in the right-back position.
“Sydney is a real talent! I’m delighted to bring him to The New Lawn,” said Savage.
Rovers’ success in developing young talent under Savage was underlined last season by the impressive loan spell of Harry Whitwell from West Bromwich Albion. His virtuoso performances demonstrated that the New Lawn has become an ideal environment for promising players to adapt to the demands of National League football.
That reputation played a key role in attracting Agina, with Savage revealing the defender had interest from clubs higher up the pyramid.
Savage said: “He had options to play at higher level but because we utilise the loan system so well and develop players the right way, clubs like Stoke trust us with their talented young players.
“He’ll add even more quality to the right-back position, along with Tre who we already know is a fantastic player.”
Agina is Savage’s sixth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Kyle Ajayi, Bryan Ifeanyi, Oli Ewing, James Berry and Emeka Obi.
