Sol Sidibie, 16, is set to follow in the footsteps of his father, Mamady, at Stoke City and join the likes of Tom Ince and Liam Delap to forge careers like their dad's did
- Sol Sidibie has featured regularly for Stoke City in pre-season and is only 16
- If he breaks through, he will become their second youngest player ever
- Sidibie could follow in the footsteps of Ince and Delap, who have famous fathers
If following in the footsteps of your famous footballer dad is the ambition then Stoke is the place to be.
In recent seasons, the likes of Tom Ince and Liam Delap have had spells with the Potters.
Their current squad contains Tyrese Campbell – son of Kevin – and D’Margio Wright-Phillips – son of Shaun and also grandson of Ian Wright.
And now a new name is close to becoming the next familiar one to appear on the back of a Stoke shirt.
Coming through their ranks since joining as an under-9 is Sol Sidibe, the son of former Stoke favourite Mamady Sidibe.
![Coming through their ranks since joining as an under-9 is Sol Sidibe, son of Mamady Sidibie (Credit: Instagram @solsidibe.6)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/04/18/73975015-12373879-Coming_through_their_ranks_since_joining_as_an_under_9_is_Sol_Si-a-43_1691168990805.jpg)
Coming through their ranks since joining as an under-9 is Sol Sidibe, son of Mamady Sidibie (Credit: Instagram @solsidibe.6)
![Sidibie has featured regularly for Stoke in pre-season and could break into the first-team (Credit: Instagram @solsidibe.6)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/04/18/73975017-12373879-Sidibie_has_featured_regularly_for_Stoke_in_pre_season_and_could-a-44_1691168990812.jpg)
Sidibie has featured regularly for Stoke in pre-season and could break into the first-team (Credit: Instagram @solsidibe.6)
Paris-born Sidibe jr, an England under-15 international who is being pursued by France, has featured regularly for Stoke in pre-season and, despite being just 16, is thought to be on the verge of a first-team breakthrough, perhaps as early as the opening weeks of the season.
![Former Stoke City player Mamady Sidibe (L) is the father of aspiring star Sol](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/04/18/73975897-12373879-image-a-46_1691169585308.jpg)
Former Stoke City player Mamady Sidibe (L) is the father of aspiring star Sol
If he does get the nod he will become Stoke's second youngest player ever.
Stoke’s academy director Gareth Owen says Sidibe, whose younger brother Bilal is a prolific striker lower down in the club’s academy, ‘possesses everything you want in a modern-day midfielder.’
And it is those qualities which have propelled him to the brink of a senior debut having displayed his potential while being fast-tracked through Stoke’s academy system, playing for the under-18s at 15 and making his debut for the under-21s at a similar age.
Sidibe - who joined the club full time on the same day as another familiar name Freddie Anderson son of former England defender Viv – has featured heavily in Stoke’s pre-season, a significant indication of how high he is in manager Alex Neil’s thoughts given their influx of talent this summer.
In Stoke’s final pre-season game against Everton Sidibe came off the bench and found himself deployed out wide and up against Ashley Young, a player his dad had played against and a situation that was testament to Young’s longevity but also Sidibe’s swift progress.
That is expected to continue and see him join the list of famously-named Stoke sons.
Most watched Sport videos
- IShowSpeed is challenged to a race by Polish Olympic sprinting star
- OnlyFans Olympian Alisha Newman shows off pole vault outfit choices
- Fans react to Ellie Aldridge winning gold in kitesurfing at Olympic
- Olympics commentator corrected after misgendering USA shot put star
- Letslie Tebogo delivers savage remark after winning gold
- Noah Lyles' Olympic rival speaks out after the 200m final
- Fitness experts distinguishes between NRL and Olympic athletes
- Awkward moment Anthony Ammirati gets his crotch stuck on crossbar
- Rebeca Andrade reacts to Simone Biles' bow to her after winning gold
- Paris 2024 Olympics: Day 11 highlights
- Olympian boxer makes 'controversial' gesture
- Adorable footage of a tiny Simone Biles at junior competition