Arthur Nasta has joined Wolves Academy, adding to their goalkeeping ranks.
The 18-year-old will join James Collins’ under-21s squad at Compton Park, having completed his first full season of men’s football with non-league Larkhall Athletic.
Nasta, who is from Butleigh in Somerset, joined the Millfield sports programme on a sports scholarship in Year 9 after previously playing for the Yeovil Town academy as an under-12.
In recent years, the goalie has improved his game with a personalized development plan, one-on-one sessions, A Level studies, and appearances 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 preserved 16 clean sheets in 44 games and nearly lost out on a play-off spot on goal difference. Jon Hunter-Barrett, academy manager for football, stated: “Arthur came in through our senior recruitment department. Initially, Graham Clutton (director of UK South academy recruitment) and Ben Wrigglesworth (head of scouting) saw him as a promising goalkeeper who, in our atmosphere, they believed could further his development and make him better.
“He has a solid educational background, therefore he is eager to learn and dedicated to playing. He used to travel!
He traveled a long distance to Larkhall for games, so I know he has a strong commitment to football and a passion for the sport.” Hunter-Barrett has described the strategy for Nasta now that he has secured his future with the Old Gold, emphasizing that the club’s excellent track record of developing players will benefit the goalie once he arrives 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 explained. “He’ll have access to all of the resources that we have available to help him develop, and we’ll look at what chances may exist for him later. 
“We have a proven history 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 received top-level coaching from ex-professionals in their football plan, so he’s adapted well to being in a professional atmosphere. We’re quite pleased with his signing and how he’s fit into the team. Bevan has also discussed Nasta’s primary assets and how the goalie would be allowed time to adjust to his new surroundings at Compton following his transfer up to the Midlands.
“His greatest asset is his speed near the goal. He plays quickly, agilely, and aggressively. The season in men’s football has allowed him to adjust to that style of play. He’s willing to put his body on the firing line among 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 are about letting him settle in and seeing how far he can go.”
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