BARROW AFC announced the signing of young forward Sam Bellis on Tuesday.

Bellis joins Pete Wild’s side on a one-year deal, with the option of an additional year, subject to EFL approval.

The 20-year-old scored a goal in pre-season during the Bluebirds’ 2-0 victory over AFC Fylde last month, but picked up a knock against Oldham Athletic which ruled him out of the remaining fixtures.

Bellis spent the majority of his youth career at Manchester City where he spent time under the tutelage of current Assistant Manager Adam Temple.

The promising centre-forward has most recently plied his trade on the South Coast at Southampton in the Premier League Two over the past four seasons scoring three goals and two assists, as well as scoring in the EFL Trophy against Newport County.

First Team Coach and B Team Manager Jason Taylor told the Club Website: Sam is a completely different style of player to any of the strikers we've got in at the minute.

“Sam's movement in and around the box is second to none which we've been able to see in little snippets when he's come on in pre-season.

"I think Sam's a real goalscorer and I think in the long run we'll be onto something good with him, but he just needs to get going obviously he's come in and been injured and now he just needs a home where he can find a bit of love and get a bit of game time."