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[Steve Russell]

Good news from the Club, well deserved....

'PHILIP Sanyaolu has signed his first professional contract with QPR, ten years after he joined
the club as an eight-year-old.

The winger, who had his family with him at our TSG Training Centre, admitted: “To get a pro deal
at the club I've been at for a long time is a very exciting feeling.

“I feel very proud of myself for getting this far.”

The 18-year-old, who helped the Development Squad win the London Senior Cup in May as well as
the Premier League Cup in 2025, was keen to praise those who have helped him on his football journey
to date.

“My dad has been there since I was able to kick a ball,” he said. “He would drive me to the park to
play football with my local Sunday league team, and travelling all the way from Essex to QPR since
I was eight.

“I'm really happy for my parents because when they had to take me to training, they couldn't take
full-time jobs because they might have got in the way of getting me to QPR, so I'm just grateful.

“My family have always been supportive of me, always tried to push me, and I'm reaping the benefits
of what they've done for me.”

Sanyaolu is also thankful for the coaches who have aided his development, adding: “Dan (Harrigan)
was my under-8s coach and I just remember his sessions, he just made me enjoy playing football.

“Tom Charles (Under-18s head coach) has been a really big help, too. I first started under him when
I was under-10s, and Andrew Impey as well.

There's been a lot of coaches I’ve been able to learn a lot from over the past 10 years, and I think it's
shaped me into the player I am and the player I want to be.”

Sanyaolu got a taste of the next step last season when he trained with the first team, and he admitted:
“At the start, it was like, ‘Wow.’

“Then, after one or two sessions, I thought, 'Okay, I'm here now. I can actually perform with them.'"

As he looks to the next challenge, Sanyaolu is keeping his feet on the ground with a clear target in mind.

“I think it's really important to not get too comfortable,” he explained.

“I'm part of a small percentage of people that's got a professional contract but there's an even smaller
percentage that have a 10-year career.

“That's what's pushing me.”

QPR CEO Christian Nourry added: “I am happy to make this next step with Phil.

“Last season wasn’t easy for him: injury setbacks, other challenges to adapt his game to. He showed
resilience throughout and ended the Development Squad campaign strongly. The staff will support him
every step of the way to further confirm his potential.”