Warhurst 'really excited' for Cobblers challenge after turning down other offers
Chris Hogg’s ‘ambition’ was one of the driving factors behind Matty Warhurst’s decision to turn down other clubs in favour of a move to Northampton.
The 19-year-old striker, who was a man in demand this summer, has penned a three-year deal at Sixfields after Cobblers agreed an undisclosed fee with Manchester City.
"I'm buzzing to be here and it's a great feeling to have signed permanently,” said Warhurst. “Speaking with the manager, he's really ambitious for this season and instantly that drew me to the club because I want to have success on the pitch and I'm really happy to be here.
"It was always my plan to make the step into senior football this season. I obviously played in the academy last season and at the end of the season we reviewed it and I felt the next best step for me was to play senior football and I don’t think there's any better place to come than here.
"I just got a really good feeling from the manager and the assistant manager and all of the staff at the club. They spoke a lot about how they want to play and what the training will look like and how they can develop me as a player and all of that is important to me. It just feels like a great setup and it'll give me a really good platform to go and play and show what I can do.”
Warhurst scored 61 goals in 97 games for various City sides in the last few seasons, including 36 goals in 41 games for the Under-18s, before adding 13 goals in 18 Premier League 2 appearances and eight goals in 11 FA Youth Cup games.
Usually, a young player of Warhurst’s ilk would head out on loan at this stage of their career but he pushed for a permanent switch.
"I want to be here and I want to show the fans that I'm committed,” he added. “I feel it's the right decision for me and I can't wait to get started and show what I can do.
"Being a Northampton Town player permanently, it means a lot more to me. I'm not on loan and I won't be going back to my parent club at the end of the season and I felt that was important. The manager and the fans know I'm fully committed.
"It's obviously my first time moving clubs and coming out of an academy and going into a senior environment but I'm looking forward to the challenge. I'll take each day as it comes and be ready to do my best every week.”