WESTON wonderkid Bradley Ash has signed for SkyBet League 1 Barnsley on the opening day of the transfer window.

The 19-year-old has left the Woodspring Stadium for an undisclosed fee, bringing the end to speculation over the sought-after striker’s future.

Ash has signed a two-and-a-half year deal to play for the South Yorkshire club, managed by former Bristol City midfielder Lee Johnson.

He has been in scintillating form for Weston this season, netting 14 goals in as many starts for the Vanarama South side, including a first career hat-trick and a run of six goals in four games in November and December.

The transfer will make Ash the most prominent graduate of the club’s academy, having joined aged 16, less than a year before making his first-team debut in August 2013.

He enjoyed a two-week trial at Birmingham City last month, but Blues boss Gary Rowett decided against making a firm offer.

Manager Ryan Northmore, who coached Ash during his spell as an academy player, praised the hard work of the forward to get his move.

He said: “Brad fully deserves his chance in League One and he is a shining example of what can be achieved for our academy players.

“We have a partnership with Churchill Academy and we are already planning for the next ‘Brad Ash’ to break through.”

Ash himself paid tribute to the club who picked him up following release from Bristol City as a youngster, but said the opportunity to play in League 1 was ‘too good to turn down’.

He said: “Playing for Weston has given me the platform to move into professional football, working under Ryan for three and a half years has been a fantastic experience.

“I have loved my time here, the fans have been great to me and my team-mates have been great too, I’m proud of my time at Weston.”