Sheffield Wednesday have a 15-year-old in their academy who’s really been turning heads this year: Caelan-Kole Cadamarteri.
Caelan-Kole Cadamarteri is the younger brother of first-team striker Bailey Cadamarteri, who’s currently spending time out on loan at Lincoln City.
This season, Cadamarteri has proved prolific for Lincoln City with five goals in all competitions so far this season.
Meanwhile, his 15-year-old brother Caelan-Kole has proved prolific as well, scoring four goals against Liverpool’s U15s with Sheffield Wednesday this week.
Earlier in the season, Cadamarteri was called up to play with the Sheffield Wednesday U18s, having scored nine goals for them this season and 32 for club and country.
Cadamarteri has also been called up for Scotland at youth level, continuing his rapid rise and once again putting himself in the spotlight.
Fans had a lot to say about the striker when news of his four goals against Liverpool broke. And Danny Rohl already knows full well about the young striker, with Cadamarteri having trained with the first-team earlier this season.
The one issue with Caelan-Kole Cadamarteri at Sheffield Wednesday right now
Cadamarteri only turned 15 in November 2024. He’s currently on a scholarship deal but can’t sign a professional contract until he’s at least 17.
Most clubs hand pro deals to players once they turn 18, but in special circumstances, clubs will offer contracts to players who are 17.
A good example is Chris Rigg at Sunderland who completed his scholarship in the summer of 2024 and then signed a three-year contract straight away, at the age of 17.
But with Cadamarteri banging in the goals, it’s going to pull him into the spotlight, and potentially onto the radars of top teams in England, which could be a huge concern for the Owls.
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Sheffield Wednesday must use Chris Rigg case study to secure Caelan-Kole Cadamarteri future
At Sunderland, Rigg made his first-team debut at 16. He made 21 Championship appearances last season as a scholar and eventually stayed loyal to Sunderland, who’d shown him that there was definitely game-time available for him, despite his young age.
Sheffield Wednesday must do the same. They must convince Cadamarteri that Hillsborough is the best place for his development, and Rohl must give him some kind of first-team action whilst he’s still a scholar.
At 15, he may be too young still. But next season when he turns 16, and if he remains as prolific as he has been this season, there could be a first-team call on the cards.
Then, Wednesday would need to turn that scholarship deal into a pro deal, a long-term one too, and give him much more regular game time so that he can begin fulfilling his potential and letting his transfer value sky rocket.