Bermuda Under-20 internationals Harlem Bean-Fox and Kennahz Fray have taken a significant step toward a professional career in England, joining Blackburn Rovers for the final phase of their trial this week.
The pair, who have been developing at the Coventry-based Future Pro Academy, will integrate with the Rovers’ Under-18 squad at the club’s senior training centre. The high-stakes week is set to culminate in a Professional Academy fixture, where both players are scheduled to feature against Accrington Stanley.
Bean-Fox and Fray have been in scintillating form for Future Pro this season, helping the side maintain an unbeaten run at the top of the Under-23 National Football Youth League. Their transition to the Lancashire outfit follows a series of standout performances, including Fray’s recent clinical strike in the English Association of Colleges National Cup.
For Future Pro Academy, the invitation represents a major validation of their elite development programme. "Having two players invited into an EFL Championship Academy and selected to compete in a professional academy match is a strong reflection of the pathways we are creating," the academy said in a statement. "It shows the performance standards we continue to raise."
Bean-Fox is no stranger to the high-pressure environment of the English second tier, having previously undergone a trial with Coventry City. For both players, the move to Blackburn offers a direct route into the professional ranks as they look to join the growing contingent of Bermudians making their mark in the English Football League.
Should they impress against Accrington Stanley, the duo could follow in the footsteps of fellow countryman Kalen Brunson, who recently made his professional breakthrough at Queens Park Rangers.
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