BURY have confirmed the sale of teenage midfielder Will Ferry to Southampton for a six-figure fee.

While the club refused to confirm the exact sum, the 17-year-old Bury-born player joins an ever-growing list of talented juniors to be sold on in recent years after progressing through the Shakers youth system.

Ferry joined the academy aged seven and last year broke through into the under-18s while still playing for the club's u15s.

He was also named as an unused substitute in the first-team's final League One game of last season at Southend United and was capped for Republic of Ireland Under-18s.

Ferry later signed scholarship forms for Bury U18s before Southampton came in for him.

A statement from the club read: "Will is technically skilful, with a firm knowledge of the game, and has shown nothing but a fantastic work ethic and dedication since he first donned a Bury shirt.

"His progress has been closely monitored by scouts from up and down the country over the last few years and he was a regular within first team training sessions.

"Our very best wishes are extended to Will as he begins this next step of what we know will be a successful career in the game.

"The deal that takes Will to the south coast, although undisclosed, will see the club benefit in the future depending on his continued success."

Ferry is the sixth player in the last four years to be sold by Bury to clubs in a higher league, following Matty Foulds (Everton), Jack Ruddy (Wolves), Liam Williams (Sheffield Wednesday), Jacob Bedeau (Aston Villa) and Emeka Obi (Liverpool).

He today joined a group of nine youngsters to sign professional scholarships at Southampton after agreeing a two-year deal.

"It’s an exciting day,” explained Southampton academy manager Matt Hale.

“We are very pleased with what we have been able to recruit into the club, on top of three or four lads that have been here for some time.

“This group has huge potential. It is probably the most amount of international players that we have been able to bring to the club, from Ireland to Norway.

“That highlights the standard of what we expect now and how good you need to be to come to this club and get a scholarship.

“We have a way of doing things both on and off the pitch throughout the age groups here, and the players that have been here for a while understand that.

“We’ll be looking at those players now to help the new lads settle in and understand that from the word go.”