AFC Fylde can announce that academy graduate Serhat Tasdemir has today joined Peterborough United for a substantial six-figure fee.

Tasdemir, 18, will join The Posh on a three-year deal, with AFC Fylde entitled to further significant add-ons in the future.

Having joined the AFC Fylde Academy at 15 after release from Blackburn Rovers, Tasdemir worked hard to force his way into the first team reckoning.

“Since arriving at the club he has strived to improve by working at every aspect of his game,” said Academy Manager Chris Ganner.

“It goes to show that there is a clear pathway from our academy into our first team and then the Football League, and I wish him all the best.”

Whilst still under the stewardship of Academy Manager Chris Ganner as a 16-year-old, Serhat made his first-team debut in a 6-2 Lancashire Cup victory over AFC Darwen, scoring a hat-trick.

This impressed first-team manager Dave Challinor, and at 17, Tasdemir experienced his first season in the National League, making his league debut against Bromley as a second-half substitute.

“We recognised immediately Serhat’s potential, and he’s grown from being a 15-year-old schoolboy, into an integral part of our first team squad,” said Manager Dave Challinor.

“This opportunity will undoubtedly allow him to fulfil his potential, and hopefully the next step on his ladder to achieve his dreams.”

Just fourteen minutes after being introduced from the bench, Tasdemir found the net, and in the process, became the club’s youngest ever goalscorer.

Tasdemir went on to make a further 25 league appearances that season, adding three more goals to an impressive first season in senior football.

In his second season with the Coasters, Tasdemir made a further 27 appearances scoring four times, whilst also netting five times in AFC Fylde’s winning FA Trophy run.

This season also saw Tasdemir make his debut on the international stage, joining up with the Azerbaijan U19 teams for the Euro qualifying fixtures, competing against the likes of Spain and Scotland.

“As is well known in the football world, Fylde are not a ‘selling club’ and that stands true today,” said Chairman David Haythornthwaite.

“However, when a young man like Serhat has an opportunity like this, it would be unfair to stand in his way, and therefore everyone at the club wishes him the very best.”

All at the club would like to wish Serhat all the best in this move, and will look on proudly at all of his future endeavours.