Caleb Kporha
Featuring in Channel 4's Football Dreams: The Academy, Caleb Kporha's progression at the club has been well documented.
Featuring in Channel 4's Football Dreams: The Academy, Caleb Kporha's progression at the club has been well documented.
Kporha had trials at Tottenham Hotspur and Palace, before ultimately joining the club at Under-16s level back in 2021.
He earned his scholarship in July 2022 and his since gone from strength to strength, playing in a number of positions including full-back, central midfield and on the wing for Rob Quinn's Under-18s.
He scored his first goal for the U18s in a 2-2 draw against Fulham in October 2022. His strong start to the campaign in 22/23 saw him play up in the Under-21s squad in January 2023, making his first start and keeping a clean sheet against Liverpool.
The youngster made 22 appearances in total for the U18s and U21s in 22/23, scoring three times.
After a successful year as a scholar, Kporha earned his first professional contract in July 2023 to commit his future to the club. He later featured for the Under-21s in their pre-season tour of the United States ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Kporha only made a single appearance for the U18s in 23/24, unfortunately due to injury. The youngster would overcome his injury and returned in the pre-season ahead of 2024/25.
In his first five appearances for Darren Powell's Under-21s side in 24/25, Kporha registered a goal and three assists to his name. His performances earned him a place on the first-team bench, for the very first time in his career, against Liverpool in October 2024.
Kporha made his debut for the first-team in November 2024, coming on against Fulham at Selhurst Park. A first start would follow just over a month later with Kporha named in Oliver Glasner's team to face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium.