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AIPROPX ReportYahoo Sports · 1h ago
Rio Ferdinand's son signs first professional deal with Premier League side
Two of Rio Ferdinand's sons now play professionally for Brighton and Hove Albion -Credit:Elsa, Getty Images
The son of Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand has put pen to paper on a professional contract — with Brighton and Hove Albion. Tate Ferdinand, 17, has been featuring for the Seagulls' U21 side since first joining the club in 2024.
He made a significant impact for the South Coast side last season, playing a pivotal role as they advanced to the Sussex Transport Senior Cup final. Remarkably, Tate is not the first of the former England captain's sons to sign a professional deal at the Amex Stadium.
Lorenz Ferdinand, a goalkeeper by trade, also committed to a professional contract in Sussex, having previously gained experience on loan with non-league team Havant and Waterlooville, as per The Mirror .
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Another one of Rio Ferdinand's son has signed a pro contract with a Premier League club -Credit:Instagram / @rioferdy5
Just over two weeks after Lorenz pledged his future to the club, Tate followed in his footsteps, much to the delight of a proud Ferdinand and former teammate Edwin van der Sar, who left a brief but warm four-word message for the teenage talent.
Sharing the news on Instagram, the former United center-back wrote: "Proud moment with the family, my boy Tate Ferdinand signing his first pro contract. Keep up the hard work."
Van der Sar was among the first of Ferdinand's former Old Trafford colleagues to offer his congratulations, commenting: "All the best Tate," while Darren Fletcher also chimed in, writing: "Love it" accompanied by a string of clapping emojis.
Last season, then Brighton U18s coach Bjorn Hamberg made a conscious effort to encourage supporters and others within the game to avoid placing an additional burden on Tate's shoulders simply because of his relationship to Ferdinand.
Hamberg said: "Tate Ferdinand is Tate Ferdinand and he needs to be play his game and have his pathway and career. For us as a team, for the under-18s as a captain, he is a big voice in our dressing room. He is obviously a leader in the back line and playing very well for the moment. I am really pleased for him as well."
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The reality that Tate is competing alongside players four years older indicates his development is accelerating rapidly. During the previous season, he logged 24 appearances for Brighton's U18s squad and even chipped in with two goals.
Given how their respective careers are unfolding, it's entirely feasible that Lorenz and Tate could eventually line up on the same side, mirroring how Ferdinand once played alongside his brother Anton.
Fascinatingly, when discussing their progress in 2025, Rio disclosed that his talented sons frequently dismissed his guidance, instead favoring the perspectives and input from their coaches. He said: "Even though I played, when I told them about football when they were 12, 13, 14 years old, they were like 'What do you know?'
"They were listening to their football coach – who'd never played a league game in his life or been a professional – and coming in and saying 'But so-and-so said this dad.'"
Rio FerdinandPremier LeagueRio Ferdinand'sTateBrightonHove AlbionLorenz TwoCreditElsaGetty ImagesManchester UnitedTate Ferdinand
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