Teenage goalkeeper Andre da Silva Mendes has agreed to extend his stay at Morecambe after signing his first professional contract.
The second-year apprentice was recognised for his on and off the pitch accomplishments earlier today by being named in LFE’s The 11, and has now secured his footballing future just three days after turning 18.
Originally from Brazil, Mendes moved to Portugal as a six-year-old and spent time in Portuguese giants Benfica’s academy before heading to England in search of another opportunity a couple of years ago.
“It feels amazing,” he told the Shrimps’ website. “All the hard work over the past two years has paid off. I’ve been working towards it for a long time and to get the reward at the end is a good feeling.
“I moved over here when I was 15 and at times it was tough, but I had an objective which was more than enough motivation. I’ve been training with the first team a lot this season and have made the bench a couple of times, which has been a good experience.
“Training with experienced players, learning from them and seeing what they do is beneficial to me and has helped me a lot. It’s been a really good two years and to get this contract is a really proud moment for me and my family.”
