Stoke City Secure Signature of England U17 Stopper Josef Bursik From AFC Wimbledon
Stoke City have announced the signing of the highly-rated AFC Wimbledon stopper Josef Bursik - who will join the club as a scholar.
According to the club's official website, the 16-year-old, who has yet to appear in Wimbledon's first team, will officially be a Stoke City player on July 1.
✍️ Highly-rated England Under-17 'keeper Josef Bursik is to join the Club from @AFCWimbledon on July 1st.
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) June 27, 2017
👉 https://t.co/wGyWxV8IkD #SCFC pic.twitter.com/8e3YR7q6XO
According to AFC Wimbledon's official website, the stopper joined the Dons at nine years old, working his way through the club's age groups before making the step up to work with the Under-18 and Under-23 sides last season, helping guide the Under-18s to the last sixteen of the FA Youth Cup.
His performances with AFC Wimbledon earned him a call-up for England Under-17s side in the European Championships in May, as the Young Lions reached the final which they ultimately lost to Spain.
Bursik was only one of three players from a non-Premier League club to feature in the 18-man England squad for the Championships in Croatia.
The 16-year-old is expected to alongside the club's under-18 coach Kevin Russell - former Stoke winger - whose side reach the semi-finals of last season's FA Youth Cup.