This article is part of Football FanCast's In The Pipeline series, which takes a look at some of the most promising young talent either linked with clubs or emerging from their academies...
Southampton prospect Ramello Mitchell has taken another step towards the first-team after signing his maiden professional contract with the Saints.
17-year-old Mitchell - who originally arrived at St Mary's from Birmingham in a deal worth an initial £300k, rising to £1m - is arguably one of Southampton's most precocious young talents.
The teenager also attracted the interest of Liverpool, Manchester United and Wolves before deciding to move to the south coast, and is seemingly rising through the ranks at Southampton if this season is anything to go by.
Having made four appearances in the U18 Premier League - where he should naturally be at his age - Mitchell progressed further by making a couple of appearances in the Premier League 2, where U23 sides usually battle it out.
If that wasn't a forward step, the teenager's first professional contract is surely a sign that he is impressing all the right people at St Mary's.
His deal will run until June 2022, and the Englishman - who has played all across the frontline this term according to Transfermarkt - is clearly convinced that Southampton is the best place for him right now.
The Saints have always prided themselves on their academy, having previously worked hard to develop the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Luke Shaw, Calum Chambers, and Theo Walcott, and they may have another gem in Mitchell on the conveyor belt.
All of the aforementioned players' development was overseen by Matt Crocker before he left to work for the Football Association, and while he was recently brought back to St Mary's as Director of Football, The Telegraph report that his role will still include helping youngsters through to the first-team.
"His remit will be much more similar to his role with the FA and that of Reed previously at Southampton. That means overseeing the entire football operation through the age groups and establishing the most effective possible pathway from the academy through to the first-team."
He may not begin work until 2020, but it appears as if one of his first projects in the role will be to oversee the development of Mitchell, who appears to have plenty of potential within him.
In other news, this Southampton target continued to shine at the weekend, although he might not be what the Saints need right now...