The highly-rated Nigerian teen Joshua Maja has penned his first professional contract with English Premier League club Sunderland.

The 17-year-old striker is among the five players in the Academy Team of the Black Cats that has been rewarded with a professional deal, and has put pen to paper on a three-year contract that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2019.

Born in London, Maja represented the youth teams of Crystal Palace and Fulham, then moved to Manchester City, before committing his future to Sunderland in 2015.

Described as a technical striker, the teenager has not played competitively for the Stadium of Light outfit but has trained with the first team.

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce is an admirer of Joshua Maja and has strongly hinted that he could hand him his debut in the near future.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : kinetic-foundation.org.uk