Sutton United Football Club is delighted to announce that four Academy players have agreed professional deals with the club.

Dan Urpens, Ronny Ruiz, Adam Reeves and James Fennelow have all put pen to paper on pro terms, being rewarded for their recent rise into the first team under Chris Agutter.

Urpens initially joined Sutton as a Colt at Under-9 level and has remained at Gander Green Lane ever since, going on to trial at Crystal Palace prior to entering the U’s Academy, having been with the club as a Schoolboy and Scholar since the Academy achieved Cat 3 status.

He later made the step into senior football when he debuted in Steve Morison’s final game in charge, coming off the bench in the National League Cup against Brighton & Hove Albion back in September, before earning his spot as a more frequent member of the first team under Agutter. Urpens was first called upon to replace Jake Taylor away at Gateshead, with his display on Tyneside earning him the Man of the Match award following an encouraging, resilient display in defence, and he has since gone on to appear eight times in all competitions.

Ruiz has also being rewarded for his impressive displays within the Academy setup, displaying composure and tenacity in the centre of the park, something he has since shown glimpses of at senior level.

The midfielder, who has Ecuadorian heritage, initially played for Billericay Town, Levels and Prostar before attending the Sutton United Academy Exit Trials at Under-16 level, and was subsequently offered a two-year scholarship, impressing within the youth ranks to earn his spot on the bench against Aldershot Town on Good Friday. Agutter subsequently opted to introduce him for his senior league debut after Charlie Bell’s sending off, and after promising performances off the bench against both Aldershot and later Southend United, he was subsequently rewarded with his first league start away at Carlisle United, with Ruiz completing the full match as arguably one of the U’s standout players in Cumbria.

Reeves meanwhile has continued his impressive progress since first being introduced to the first team setup last season, being heavily involved during the pre-season campaigns ahead of the 2024/25 and 2025/26 campaigns.

The left back, who played for Old Coulsdon Colts, Chipstead and Worcester Park Colts before joining Sutton, initially rose from the Colts at Under-12 level from whom he came into the Academy directly, remaining with the U’s as a Schoolboy and Scholar since the Academy achieve Cat 3 status. He subsequently received his chance to train with the first team across the last two seasons and made his senior debut in the National League Cup against Brighton, since going on to appear four times for the club within a first team environment, including two appearances in the Surrey Senior Cup this term.

Fennelow is another player who was introduced to the first team last term, making his debut off the bench away at Ebbsfleet United back in April 2025, and he has displayed his work rate and knack for getting in the right positions during each of his brief stints with the first team.

After playing for Halliford Colts and London Elite Youth, Fennelow had a trial at Fulham before arriving in Sutton’s Academy at Under-15 level, progressing from a Schoolboy to a Scholar within the Academy. A number of superb performances with the Under-18s led to his call-up to the first team last season, replacing top scorer Will Davies with ten minutes to go at the Kuflink Stadium, and he even came close to scoring a debut goal when he headed over the crossbar late on. After recovering from an injury, he has since made his second senior appearance for the club, with another encouraging display off the bench against Southend.

As we were with Jack Taylor, Junior Eccleston and Charlie Bell, we are incredibly proud to have played a key part in each player’s career and consider this a perfect example of the superb work done within the academy setup, with the quartet making it six players to sign professionally over the last 12 months, as well as Taylor who signed at the start of 2024.

Upon tying down his four new pros, Chris Agutter said:

“I’m very pleased for all the boys, they have worked incredibly hard to earn the opportunities they’ve had and what’s even more impressive is that they’ve all grasped their chance.

Homegrown and hungry players is something I wholeheartedly believe in as a manager, and I know the Amber Army are aligned with us on that….they love to see one of their own out there, giving it their all. This is the connection and affinity we want to continue to build between ten pitch and the stands…..and together we can move forwards!”

Director of Football, Terry Bullivant added:

“Congratulations to the lads, they’ve thoroughly deserved it.

We’re hoping for bright things for the future like our other lads who’ve come through the Academy.”

Congratulations, lads!