AFC Wimbledon and England U17 goalkeeper Joe Bursik to join Stoke City
Thursday 6 July 2017 16:59, UK
Stoke City have agreed a deal with AFC Wimbledon to sign their England U17 goalkeeper Joe Bursik.
Bursik was in goal for England when they made it to the final of the European U17 Championship in May, one of only two players in the squad not from a current Premier League club.
The 16-year-old had been with the Dons since the age of eight and was part of their first-team squad against Swindon Town in April, when he was an unused substitute.
Bursik will now join the Premier League side as a scholar, and Dons boss Neil Ardley said: "Sometimes these decisions are not just down to me and you have to look at what is best for the player and the club.
"Unfortunately, we have lost Joe, but he goes with our best wishes for the future.
"We must give Bayzo [goalkeeping coach Ashley Bayes] credit for helping to bring Joe through.
"With Will Mannion also playing for England, we are proud to have had two young goalkeepers representing our country, and Bayzo has played a big part in developing both of them."
