Wolves Academy have strengthened their goalkeeping ranks with the signing of Arthur Nasta.
The 18-year-old will join James Collins’ under-21s squad at Compton Park and comes into the club following his first full season in men’s football with non-league Larkhall Athletic.
Hailing from Butleigh in Somerset, Nasta joined the Millfield sports programme on a sports scholarship when he was in Year 9 and was previously with Yeovil Town academy as an under-12.
And in recent years, the goalkeeper has progressed his game through a personalised development plan and one-to-one sessions alongside his A Level studies, as well as appearing for Street FC.
During the 2023/24 season, Nasta was given his first taste of senior football in the Southern League Division One South, the seventh tier, with Larkhall, where he kept 16 clean sheets in 44 appearances and narrowly missed out on a place in the play-offs on goal difference.
Academy manager for football, Jon Hunter-Barrett, said: “Arthur came in through our senior recruitment department. Initially, it was Graham Clutton (head of UK south academy recruitment) and Ben Wrigglesworth (head of scouting) who identified him and saw a talented goalkeeper that they felt, being in our environment, would be able to further his development and make him better.
“He has a strong educational background so is keen to learn and is committed to playing. He used to travel a lot to Larkhall and the distances to games was a lot, so I know he has a strong commitment to football and a passion for the game.”
Hunter-Barrett has explained the plan for Nasta now that he has secured his future with the Old Gold, stressing that the club’s proven track record of improving players will stand the goalkeeper in good stead once he gets going at the Compton.
“He’ll go into our under-21s group for the forthcoming season and it’s now about further growth for him,” Hunter-Barrett continued. “He’ll have access to the full resources that we have available to aid his development and further down the line, we’ll be looking at what opportunities arise for him.
“We’ve got a proven record of being able to bring people into our programme and, through the resources available to them, really improve them and propel their development and career.”
Head of academy goalkeeping, Scott Bevan, added: “Arthur has shown a fantastic attitude, a willingness to learn and improve and a desire to be the best version of himself. It shows a lot in his character that he was part of Yeovil’s academy system and when that disbanded he had a vision of going out to America to do a scholarship scheme. He went to Millfield School and enrolled on their football programme to hopefully get himself out to America.
“He signed for Larkhall Athletic to play men’s football and that showed a real openness and willingness to go and get his hands dirty and do whatever it takes to reach his end goal. Combined with the ability he’s got, he’s managed to get the opportunity to trial at Wolves and he’s taken it with both hands. He’s come in and continued in that vein of form.
“At Millfield, he was getting top-level coaching from ex-professionals in their football scheme which means he’s adapted quite well to coming into a professional environment. We’re really happy with signing him and how he’s integrated into the group.”
Bevan has also touched on the key strengths of Nasta and explained how the goalkeeper will be given time to adapt to his new surroundings at Compton after making the move up to the Midlands.
“His strengths are his speed around the goal. He’s very quick, agile and aggressive with his game style. Getting the season in men’s football has allowed him to acclimatise to that style of football. He’s willing to put his body into the firing line in amongst the bodies and there’s also a willingness to put himself in situations where he might make mistakes. He’s got that physical ability and also the mental aspect which comes with the pressure of playing for three points.
“It’s important we don’t stretch him too much because he’s also enrolled himself on a course at the University of Wolverhampton. Coming into a new environment and moving away from what he’s used to, if we keep chucking lots of stuff at him then it may stretch him so we’re cautious of that. We want to give him a little bit of time to come and adapt to new surroundings at Wolves.
“It’s a case of getting used to the group, how we work and what’s expected of him. This first three to four months is about letting him settle in and seeing how far he’ll go.”
