Former Premier League academy player Jayden Onen joins Forward Madison

Madison Forward 3rd Column 2

MADISON, Wis. — Forward Madison are bringing in a young player who has experience at some of soccer’s top academies.

Jayden Onen, a 21-year-old attacking midfielder, signed Tuesday, the team announced. Onen spent the last year with Sheffield Wednesday in England’s third tier.

“He’s a versatile, attacking player that can play different positions,” head coach Matt Glaeser said. “We feel like he’ll help us create chances and play effectively on both sides of the ball.”

Onen has spent time in the academies of Premier League sides Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion. He appeared for Brighton’s U21 squad in the EFL Trophy in September 2018, a 2-1 loss to Luton Town.

In December 2018, Onen transferred to Brentford, who were in the English second tier at the time. He made 46 appearances for the Bees’ B-Team before leaving to sign with Reading in 2020.

Onen made 20 appearances with Reading’s youth squad, and tallied eight goals and three assists. He was also selected to play for Uganda in two qualifiers for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, however the matches were postponed.