Wolves sell striker who rejected Canaries contract
Benny Ashley-Seal in action for Norwich City U18s against Tottenham in the FA Youth Cup in 2017 Picture: Andy Kearns/Focus Images - Credit: Andy Kearns/Focus Images Limited
Former Norwich City academy striker Benny Ashley-Seal hasn’t been able to force his way in at Wolves and has been sold to Northampton Town by the Premier League club.
Ashley-Seal rejected a contract offer from the Canaries at 18 years old, having been a central part of the under-18 squad which reached the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals in 2016, featuring alongside players including Todd Cantwell, Ben Godfrey and Jamal Lewis.
That saw Wolves have to pay an undisclosed compensation fee in 2017, having gone on trial at Chelsea and Stoke initially after featuring regularly in Premier League Two but not at first team level for City.
He scored regularly at youth levels for Wolves and made two brief League Cup appearances at senior level to earn a new contract through until 2022, before spending the second half of 2018-19 on loan in the Portuguese top flight with Familicao, scoring once in five appearances as a substitute.
Last season the former Arsenal trainee made two further cup appearances and was on the bench for six Premier League games, then made five League One appearances while on loan at Accrington.
Benny Ashley-Seal in FA Cup action for Wolves against Manchester United earlier this year Picture: David Davies/PA Wire - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
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However, the 21-year-old has been sold to League One side Northampton, signing a two-year contract - following on swiftly from Wolves forking out a huge club record £35million to sign Portugal Under-19 forward Fabio Silva from Porto.
Northampton’s manager, former Wolves and Manchester City defender Keith Curle, told his club’s website: “He is a big, strong and powerful striker.
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“We have watched him a few times and seen him in training and there is no doubt that he is a young man who can score goals.
“He is only just starting the journey we believe he can go on, but he has had an excellent upbringing in a very good environment and now he is making a step to create his own profile.
“He looks after the ball well, he has good power, good strength and good technique with a real hunger and a desire to do well.
“We will play in a way that suits his ability and his skill set. His loan spell at Accrington last season shows he can do well in League One and this is the next step in his progression.”
