A gifted young footballer will be following in David Beckham’s footsteps and giving up life in England to pursue his own American dream.

The 19-year-old ex-Sutton Grammar School pupil and MK Dons football apprentice, Adam Kent, will be swapping Sutton for Manhattan later this month.

Adam recently achieved his Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (ASE) while training with MK Dons, in Milton Keynes, giving him the necessary qualifications to enrol at Manhattanville College.

The Epsom-born student heads out to New York in a matter of weeks where he will study a four-year degree course, while playing for the college football team.

As 90 per cent of apprentices are no longer in the game by the age of 21, the ASE programme gives all apprentices something to fall back on should their apprenticeship not lead to a professional career.

Adam said: “Gaining an education as an apprentice was always important to me.

“You never know what is going to happen in football including the risk of career ending injuries.

“I’m very glad I studied hard while on ASE, it has given me opportunities that I didn’t think were possible.

“I’m really excited to be studying and playing abroad.

“I have the best of both worlds and I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead”.

League Football Education (LFE) manage the apprenticeship Sporting Excellence programme (SEC), which was put in place to ensure all Football League club apprentices mix academic qualifications into their football training programme.