We are delighted to announce that young midfielder Charlie Bussell has signed his first professional contract with the club, having progressed through our Academy.
Under his first pro contract, which takes effect from 1st April 2026, Bussell will stay at the club until at least the summer of 2027.
The talented 18-year-old midfielder has impressed in our Academy and has been training with our first team under manager Jon Brady.
Bussell has been at the club since he was 16, and was a second-year scholar, winning Academy Goal of the Season last term.
Speaking on Bussell’s first contract, Brady said: “He’s got good ability; he needs to have resilience, he needs to work hard and it’s down to him.
“He’ll have pre-season with us like we talked about, and then we’ll be assessing him even closer. He’s got some real good strengths and things he needs to work on, and it’ll be down to him whether he goes on loan first or stays with us.”
Port Vale Head of Academy, Danny Lloyd, added: “I’m absolutely delighted to see Charlie sign his first professional contract. From the moment he came in, he’s shown real commitment and a willingness to learn, which has helped him progress through the Academy.
“Charlie’s developed really well during his time with us. He’s a strong-running central midfielder who covers the pitch well, and one of his standout qualities is his range of passing. He’s got the ability to switch play and hit those longer diagonal passes, which gives us real quality in possession.
“Just as importantly, he’s a great lad. His attitude day in, day out has been spot on; he works hard, takes on information and is always looking to improve. He’s a really positive character around the group and someone who fully deserves this opportunity.”
“We’re all really pleased for him and look forward to seeing how he continues to develop in the professional phase.”
Everyone at the club would like to congratulate Charlie and look forward to his continued development here at Vale Park.
