‘Unbelievable feeling’: 17yo signs first Newcastle Jets contract after eight years at club

Newcastle Jets have confirmed local product Alex Nunes has signed a two-year scholarship contract at the club.

Nunes, 17, is an attacking midfielder who joined the club’s academy aged nine after relocating from Darwin. His first scholarship contract comes after an an impressive season for the club’s youth team under head coach Damian Zane.

“It’s such an unbelievable feeling signing my first contract with the Club I’ve been with since I was nine years old,” Nunes said.

“This is hopefully the first step in what I hope is a long career in football. I’ve always dreamed of putting the Jets jersey on and playing in front of the fans at McDonald Jones Stadium.”

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Nunes, who trialled at Portugues club Benfica as a 15-year-old, has trained with the Jets first-team squad under Rob Stanton – Newcastle’s senior men’s head coach who says the teenage scholarship signing is ready to make the step into the Isuzu UTE A-League squad.

“Alex is a highly talented creative footballer who has spent time training with the first team last season,” Stanton said.

“He has progressed well, and I’ve monitored his performances with the Youth Team this season and he’s ready to make the next step into a full-time A-League environment. It’s now up to him to apply himself and develop further.”