Who is Nya Kirby? All you need to know about this Crystal Palace wonder kid

Crystal Palace have made a rough start to their Premier League season but off the pitch, they are having a good time. First, their beloved manager Roy Hodgson extended his contract before the start of the season. Then, Palace’s superstar Wilfried Zaha signed a five-year contract and now, Nya Kirby, a young talented midfielder has signed a deal with the club till 2022.

Background

Kirby is an 18-year-old midfielder who signed a professional contract with Palace in February 2017, having previously been on the books of Tottenham Hotspur. He was an integral part of the England team that won the U17 FIFA World Cup in India.

Kirby got his first taste of the Premier League when he was named on the bench by Roy Hodgson against his former club Spurs in February this year. However, he couldn’t make an appearance on the pitch. After a series of outstanding displays in pre-season, Kirby has truly earned this long-term contract.

In the 2017/18 season, he made just 2 appearances for the U18s before being promoted to the U23s side. With the reserve team, he made 18 appearances and scored 4 goals.

What the future holds

Crystal Palace have been known for giving young players their chances and Kirby should be hoping for the same. In a recent interview, Kirby said (h/t Crystal Palace’s official website),

“I see this as an amazing achievement and I am very excited to have the chance to sign this new contract. I know though that the hard work starts here and I need to keep working on my game to give myself the best opportunities for the future.”

Read More: Forget it Hodgson – Crystal Palace can’t afford to let this £130,000-a-week superstar exit the club

According to an earlier report from Daily Express in the summer, Kirby was on the watchlist of several top clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal. This only shows what a great talent Kirby is and with hard work and dedication, he will have a bright future ahead of him.