Crystal Palace fans react as Malachi Boateng signs his first professional contract

Some Crystal Palace fans have taken to Twitter to react after academy prospect Malachi Boateng signed his first professional contract.

The 17-year-old – younger brother of Hiram Boateng, a former academy player turned first-team appearance maker at Selhurst Park – has featured four times for the Under-23 side so far this season, scoring once with a well-taken strike against Hull City.

Under-23 coach Richard Shaw recently spoke glowingly of Boateng to The Athletic’s Matt Woosnam, saying: “I know for a fact Mal will make it. 100 per cent, because he’s cut from the same cloth as his brother.”

The defender enjoyed a brilliant 2018/19 campaign with the Under-18 side, where his performances earned him the Under-18 Player of the Season award before he was promoted to the Under-23 ranks.

One fan said that the news was “great”, before calling on the south London-based side to now tie academy left-back Tyrick Mitchell down to fresh terms.

Another supporter went slightly off topic and asked if Boateng was a striker, so he could replace Christian Benteke.

Let’s take a look at some more of the Twitter reaction…