CHERRIES have snapped up teenage forward Koby Mottoh, after a successful trial period with the club.

Mottoh came through the academy at Arsenal, before being released in 2022.

Portsmouth then swooped to sign Mottoh, who went on to play five times for the first team last season under John Mousinho.

Those appearances came in the EFL Cup and EFL Trophy, but the 17-year-old was let go by Pompey this summer, following their promotion into the Championship.

Mottoh featured as a trialist for Cherries during their Professional Development League win over Crewe Alexandra at Vitality Stadium at the end of last season.

He will now join Alan Connell’s development squad permanently, penning his first professional contract.

“We’re delighted to bring in Koby and very much look forward to working with him,” Connell told the club’s website.

“He has had an excellent grounding in the academies at both Arsenal and Portsmouth and always impressed when he played against us.

“He will have every opportunity to develop his career further with us and we are excited to see how far he can progress.”

Mottoh was at Portsmouth last season with Christian Saydee, who himself came through Cherries’ academy.

Discussing his new contract, Mottoh said: “Signing my first professional contract is a very proud moment for me and my family.

“I just want to get straight into work and this is just the start of what I hope will be a long career for me.

“I’m very familiar with the club, staff and players so I think I’ll settle in really well.”

Essex-born Mottoh already has a Vitality Stadium goal to his name, scoring for Pompey against Cherries in the Hampshire Senior Cup in March 2023.

Cherries won the game 5-2, with David Brooks scoring a hat-trick.

Mottoh is now set to head away with Connell’s squad to Spain for a pre-season training camp next week, which will involve friendlies against FC Cartagena and Nottingham Forest B.