Tue Nov 07, 2023 5:43 pm
Cardiff academy product Lewys Benjamin has signed his first professional contract at Wolves just months after leaving the Bluebirds.
Benjamin appeared to be heading to Manchester City before Manchester City changed their minds and Wolves swooped for his signature. And the Wales under-19 international has now signed his first pro terms.
Wolves' head of academy goalkeeping, Scott Bevan, said: “Lewys has been at Cardiff since the age of eight or nine so to make that move up to the Midlands is a big transition for him, but he’s settled in really well. He’s a good, calm character and is desperate to learn and improve.
“There’s a great framework to build on and the thing that we’re most pleased with is that he’s embracing everything we’re trying to teach him to help improve his game and he’s trying to put it into practice. In terms of his actual goalkeeping, he’s very reliable with his techniques and when protecting the goal, his cross-taking is decent – he’s very mobile and explosive as well. There’s still a long way to go but we’re really happy with how he’s settled into the group.
“He still needs time to consolidate so if we can get some consistency from now until the end of the season and get that balance right of stretch and challenge with consolidation, then it means the most important thing is he keeps developing every day. He’ll get opportunities at the right time and hopefully he can step up to the plate and take those opportunities.”
Academy manager for football, Jon Hunter-Barrett, added: “It’s an exciting time for Lewys and it’s been an exciting time for Wolves in the short period of time we’ve got to know him since making his move across from Cardiff City.
“He’s really cementing himself within the goalkeeping department and the under-18s environment. He’s impressed us so far with his performances. Throughout the season, we want to see him continue to impress and be ready whenever he gets the call for the next step up.”