We are pleased to confirm that Luke Bell has signed his first professional contract with the Club.
The 18-year-old has committed his future on Wearside signing until 2026, with the option of a further year.
Bell first joined the Academy of Light at the age of eight and has most recently featured for the Under-18s and the Under-21s.
The centre-back became a mainstay in Graeme Murty’s Premier League 2 side that went on to reach the Play-Off finals.
Academy Manager, Robin Nicholls said: “Luke has made great progress during his time with the Club, particularly in the past few months where he has played an important role in the U21 team that progressed to the Play-Off Final of PL2. He has captained our U18 team this season and continued to develop himself individually under the tutelage of the PDP staff across all domains. It is great that Luke has signed his first professional contract, and we look forward to challenging him further in the coming seasons.”