Plymouth Argyle prospect Freddie Issaka agrees long-term contract

Exciting teenage prospect Freddie Issaka has declared he wants to repay the trust of Plymouth Argyle after agreeing a new four-year contract with the Championship club.

It will come into effect on his 18th birthday later this month and the Pilgrims' academy product admitted it would allow him to focus on his aim of breaking into the first team without having to wonder about what his future might hold.

Issaka told Argyle TV: "It's a really exciting time for me and a massive honour. I think it shows a lot of trust from the club to want to keep me on for that long. It's time for me to show that I owe it to the club, I deserve it and I have earned it. It's time to work hard.

Read More: Wayne Rooney makes promise to Argyle players as pre-season starts

You can read more of our Argyle stories from Plymouth Live by clicking HERE

"I think it's a massive achievement and a big step in my career, which I'm very proud of, but it also means that I can focus a lot on football. Sometimes you can find yourself thinking about what's going to happen next, but I have got a bit of breathing space, a time where I can crack down and focus on trying to get myself in the team and the squad."

Issaka's continued development as a young player of considerable promise will now come under the responsibility of England legend Wayne Rooney, the Pilgrims' new head coach.

"He spoke to the whole team and said how he will be honest with everyone, and wants to push on and win as much as we can," said Issaka. "It shows that he's here to help us and make sure that we do everything correctly.

"He has spoken to me one-on-one saying that he's always there to help me, which is good to hear. I will definitely try to ask questions and do everything I can to learn from such an icon of the game. He has been really supportive and it looks like he will be the whole time."

Issaka became Argyle's youngest-ever player at the age of 15 years and 34 days when he came off the bench in an EFL Trophy group game away to Newport County in August 2021. The Wales under-19 international has gone on to make two starts and 14 substitute appearances at first team level, with nine of them coming last season.

The former Truro School pupil signed his first professional contract on his 17th birthday and was a key part of the Argyle under-18s' highly successful 2023/24 campaign, when they won both of the EFL Youth Alliance South West Division and the Merit League One.

Argyle's long-serving first team coach Kevin Nancekivell said: "We are really pleased for Freddie to have agreed a new, extended deal with us. His progress over the last few years has been impressive, and he has benefitted from being around the senior team a lot and getting minutes to aid his development.

"Now as he formally steps up from the under-18s, this contract underlines our commitment to him, and vice versa. Our academy has gone from strength to strength over the last few years and this is another sign of our desire to nurture our best young talent, of which we have many, and are very excited about."