Keilen Signs for Derby County
Derby have added another talented youngster to their academy in the form of Keilen Robinson, after scouting him from our Birmingham event in February.
The Championship club were one of two interested parties on the day, but made the first move to arrange a trial for Keilen.
A successful six-week-spell followed, leading to Keilen signing a contract at Derby County Football Club.
His dad, Matthew, explained: “He’s been offered a two-year contract. It’s brilliant news, he’s made up.
“After the UK Football Trial, MK Dons and Derby contacted us.
“MK wanted to watch him again, Derby didn’t, they said we’ll give him a game in the shadow squad which they did on a Wednesday night.”
Matthew added: “A day or so later we got an email asking if he wanted to play in a game for the academy on the Saturday so he played in that in the snow, that was a really tough game in those conditions but he obviously did something right.
“They held us back after the game and said we’d like to give him a six-week-trial, and he’s just finished that.
“Obviously it’s quite a nervy time, you don’t really know what they’re thinking because they play their cards close to their chests don’t they.
“Then the other night they asked us to come in for a meeting and said they really like him, they like his attitude, they like the way he plays and offered him a two-year-contract.”
The contract was a fantastic way to round off a big few weeks for Keilen, who had never had a football trial before booking our event in February.
But he has adapted to academy life seamlessly and is yet to lose a game in his Derby career.
“They’re a really good side and didn’t lose a game while he was on trial there,” said Matthew.
“I think they drew with Stoke and beat West Brom 3-2. Yeah, he’s played against Blackburn, Coventry, Leicester, Wigan, he’s had a few games and it’s been a really quick transition for him, because he’s never done anything like this.
“He’s not been involved in an academy set up at all, never had any trials. I thought he had something but he wasn’t really ever getting spotted, so we did UK Football Trials just to see where he was at and put him in that situation.”
He continued: “If we came away and nothing happened then we got to find his level and we’d have been happy with that, but obviously here we are today so at this moment in time it’s the best thing I’ve ever done for him.”
His football club hasn’t been the only change Keilen has made recently, also moving from a winger or full-back to centre-back since he’s been with Derby.
Everyone at UK Football Trials would like to congratulate Keilen and his family on this great news and wish him all the best with his football in the future.