Eighteen-year-old Maltese goalkeeper James Sissons has signed for the academy.
Sissons has featured internationally for Malta at youth level, before being named on the bench for recent World Cup qualifiers against Holland, Poland, Finland and Lithuania.
Whilst with the academy in pre-season, Sissons impressed against Liverpool and during the youth-team training camp in Scotland against Hibernian and Dundee.
His first outing after signing for the club will come today when the young Spireites will face Salford City in the EFL Youth Alliance League.
Sissons said: “I was very proud when I received my first call-up to the national team.
“I played against big sides – Switzerland at U16 level and Spain in the U17 European Championship qualifiers.
“After some time, I got my first-team call-up. I went and did my best. To be part of the squad that faced top teams like Holland and Poland, against players like Van Dijk is the dream, really.”
With fellow Maltese youth prospect Gunner Elliott earning a professional deal earlier in the summer, Sissons added: “It motivates me to take the same path. I feel like that’s the strongest path I can take to make it.
“Going forward, I want to be competing in the EFL Youth Alliance League, U19 , U21, U23 as well as the reserve games in the Central League.
“Training has been great with goalkeeper coach Dave O’Hare and all the academy coaching staff. It’s been a good experience so far and I am looking forward to working hard to develop as well as progress.”
