Norwich City Academy forward Ken Aboh has signed his first professional contract at the club through to the summer of 2024.
Aboh made his debut for City’s Under-18s team last season and went on to get five goals and three assists in the league.
This season, he’s featured regularly for the U18s, once for the U23s, and got off the mark with his first goal of the season in the FA Youth Cup at Carrow Road.
“I’m over the moon to sign my first professional contract at this club,” he said. “I’ve been here since I was a young boy and came in with the school programme, so for me it’s a very good step to take.
“I think the coaches have helped my development a lot and I’ve had a lot of experiences and ups and downs, but this is a high and a great moment for me and my family. I just hope that I can get the next one now.
“I used to play as a winger but they saw me as a centre-forward and I think it’s a very good position. They helped me take my game to the next level and be smarter. As you grow up, players get bigger, stronger and faster so you need to outsmart them.”
Of his five goals and three assists last season, the majority came across a three-game period in April.
“I was very eager as a 16-year-old to go into the 18s league and I was very excited to do my best,” Aboh explained. “There were a lot of nerves but I think they gave me the confidence to go and do it.
“I think my goal recently in the FA Youth Cup will help get me off the mark and hopefully the goals start flying in now and we start getting good results that we deserve.
“Making the step up to the 23s, it was a very good experience and to be involved in the game, it was a very fiery, different type of game, very physical and quicker than 18s football, just a step up. Hopefully, I can get myself back there.
“It’s difficult to adapt to, but because of the coaches we have and how we work closely with the 23s, it makes it a bit easier and the way the club runs things is perfect because if one of us goes into there now we would fit in and do our best, so it wouldn’t be too difficult to adapt.”
It’s been a difficult season for City’s U18s in terms of results, but the period has seen them grow and mature from the lessons they’ve learned.
“We’ve learned a lot about each other, sticking together and we’ve got to go from start to finish,” Aboh said. “It’s a big surprise for us this season but it’s a good lesson that we’re learning. In terms of the situation, it’s a very good learning curve.”
Aboh describes fellow Academy forward Abu Kamara as someone to look up to, the U23s forward scoring goals for fun during his time with the Canaries.
“He’s looked after me,” Aboh said. “He’s older than me, two years above, so he’s been there the whole time. Even before the FA Youth Cup game, when I was having a little bit of a goal drought, he just told me to do the basics right and the goal will come, and the goal did come. I’m thankful for him for having such a role model because he’s doing great in the 23s right now and I think he’s also been in a position like mine.
“He’s developed a lot as well and grown a lot. I’m younger than him but I’ve been with him for a long time at Langley in the schools programme, so I’m proud for him.”