Kian Eyer's – 17 Years Old – Scouted by Sutton United 

At just 17 years old, goalkeeper Kian Eyerw has already carved out an impressive journey in football, marked by resilience, adaptability, and a growing reputation between the posts. His story is one of steady development and determination, showing how dedication and hard work can open doors to professional opportunities. 

Kian’s early footballing background didn’t actually begin in goal. “I started off as a striker and have been a goalkeeper for about 7–8 years,” he explained. That transition proved pivotal, setting him on the path to where he is today. Over the last two years, he has been playing men’s football, gaining invaluable experience at a higher level of competition. Alongside this, he has already built a semi-professional résumé, playing for a season and a half at semi-pro level. 

His talent and consistency saw him earn opportunities with several professional clubs. Kian has trialled at Nottingham Forest, Colchester United, and Oxford United, and even featured in a trial game for Cambridge United. Each experience offered him fresh lessons, but his most significant breakthrough came when Sutton United came calling. 

“ I was in touch with the head of recruitment and some of the coaching staff from Sutton who invited me down to a trial period,” Kian recalled. His performances quickly made an impression. “After about one and a half to two weeks, I was offered to sign a full-time contract for them.” 

During his trial, Kian immersed himself fully in the Sutton environment, balancing both technical and team-based work. “I was training with the goalkeeper coach every day and also getting involved with certain team drills like shooting or small-sided games,” he explained. He was also trusted with two appearances in pre-season matches, where he seized the opportunity to show his ability on the pitch. “In two of the games, I kept clean sheets, making quite a few good saves in each game.” 

For any young goalkeeper, confidence and composure are vital. For Kian, the UK Football Trials experience played a big role in sharpening both. “I learned more specific and skilful techniques that can be used, and I worked on them to strengthen my game,” he said. Beyond the technical aspect, the trials also pushed him personally. “I learned how to come out of my comfort zone and communicate with other people to get more confidence as a person. Loads of different skills and techniques that weren’t as strong or as good before have now improved.” 

Reflecting on the best moments from his journey so far, Kian points to his performances under pressure. Keeping back-to-back clean sheets in trial matches was a major highlight. Those performances, combined with his daily training efforts, ultimately convinced Sutton to offer him a contract. “The club gave me quite a lot of feedback on how well I did and things I did well, and that’s why they offered me the spot to sign,” he said proudly. 

When asked why he chose UK Football Trials in the first place, Kian pointed to the opportunities it creates. “I had seen it all over social media and had been to a few of the one-day trials, so I thought I would decide to do a five-day trial as well.” It was a decision that clearly paid off. 

Would he recommend UK Football Trials to others? His answer was clear: “Yes, I would. The reason for this is because you get loads of exposure to high-level coaching and also get to be seen by scouts from loads of different levels, from Premier League all the way down to semi-pro.” 

With his new chapter at Sutton United now underway, Kian is determined to keep pushing himself to new heights. His journey is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when talent meets opportunity, and he is now well-positioned to continue his rise in the professional game.