Kerr Smith has signed his first professional contract at Dundee United, despite the likes of Aston Villa and Manchester United chasing his services.
The teenager is a highly-rated prospect at Tannadice and appeared in first-team pre-season plans at 15. But for a while it looked as if they were fighting a losing battle to keep him as Manchester United came calling.
He was taken down south for a week as Manchester United ran the rule over him on a trial basis. Tangerines sporting director Tony Asghar said he trained ‘very well’ with the Red Devils as contract offers began to circle.
Smith also spent some time on trial at Aston Villa and there was interest from Everton at one stage too. But a likely quicker path to senior football beckons for him after penning a Tannadice deal.
Micky Mellon has already given opportunities to teenagers to be around the first-team this season, including players such as Lewis Neilson, Kai Fotheringham, Adam Hutchinson, Darren Watson and Finlay Malcolm.
Now Smith is set to become the latest teen handed a chance. He will remain at Tannadice until 2023 as United confirm that they have fended off interest from a number of Premier League clubs for his services.
Academy director Andy Goldie said: “We are delighted that Kerr has committed to his first professional contract with Dundee United. He has shown great maturity over the last few years and has taken on all the challenges that Our Academy has set him during his development.
“He is a talented player and his commitment to the Academy since he was eight-years-old is a great inspiration to other Academy players.”