Nottingham Forest have seen off competition from Chelsea to sign teenager Jordan Gabriel from Southend. The Premier League giants were among a number of clubs chasing the 16-year-old full-back's signature, but the Reds won the race to bring him to the City Ground. Academy manager Gary Brazil says the Scotland youth international has raw talent to work with. Brazil said: "The boy is going to be someone who the strength and conditioning department can work hard with. His speed and strength stats are very good. "We're pleased – there were other people very interested but he's chosen to come to us." Gabriel will commence his scholarship at the Nigel Doughty Academy next year. The move comes on the same day Forest handed professional deals to four of their academy squad. Tyler Walker, Nikolay Todorov, Matty Cash and Freddie Nielsen have all been identified as potential stars of the future. Forest may to turn to youth in the coming months with the club under transfer embargo for breaching Financial Fair Play rules, meaning they currently cannot pay a transfer fee for a player. However, their academy continues to produce talent. They are in the last eight of the FA Youth Cup with a tie against Tottenham to come.
