Pepple Set For Sheffield United Trial

Alberta-based Canadian Premier League side Cavalry FC is sending teenage forward Aribim Pepple to Premiership side Sheffield United FC, where the 17-year-old will undergo a two-week trial.

Should the youngster impress, the intent is for the move to be made permanent.

Pepple – who is originally from Kettering over in England – has spent the last two seasons with Cavalry FC after impressing at the USL2 level with the Calgary Foothills. When he was brought in to Cavalry last August at the age of sixteen, he was coming off a fine run of form which saw him net five goals in his last five appearances for the Foothills.

He then made nine appearances at the CPL level last year, all of which came as a late-game substitute. This trend continued at the Island Games in Charlottetown, where Pepple registered six appearances but only racked up 66 minutes of competitive game time.

This is a fantastic opportunity for Aribim, who’s pace, power and potential have caught the eye of a number of overseas clubs this year.  He is still developing his game and we often forget he is only 17 years old due to the maturity he shows in both his physical appearance and character. He has a very high ceiling in terms of potential that we feel this is the perfect opportunity for him to go overseas where the English season has only just begun.

Tommy Wheeldon Jr.

The teenager is currently part of the Canada U-17 national team setup, where he was called up to the squad ahead of friendlies against Argentina and Mexico last October. At the present, he is the youngest member of the senior Cavalry FC squad – though the side has its eyes on a few other youth prospects as well.

Pepple becomes the second CPL product to make plans in England today, with York9 FC announcing that 25-year-old winger Michael Petrasso would spend the next eight months with Vanarama National League side Barnet FC on loan.

This marks Cavalry FC’s first offseason training move for an athlete, though more of these are expected to come in the near future. Last year, the club quietly sent Dominick Zator and Nico Pasquotti to train with Ross County and Real Mallorca, respectively.

With a long Canadian offseason ahead, Cavalry FC gaffer Tommy Wheeldon Jr. admitted there were more players than opportunities in terms of offseason moves, with clubs forced to get a bit creative in terms of finding offseason training or loan deals for their squad members.

The length of Pepple’s current contract with Cavalry FC is unknown, so it’s unclear if Cavalry FC will get anything if Sheffield United opts to sign the youngster into their academy system.