Phoenix wonderkid Sean Leighton recalled to Genk
KINGTSON, Jamaica — Promising striker Sean Leighton of Phoenix Academy has been recalled by Belgium club KRC Genk FC for later this month and will also travel to English Premier League club Chelsea.
Leighton will be joined by two other academy mates, Robinho Gordon and Savi-K Morton of St Kitts and Nevis.
Phoenix Academy founder Craig Butler made the revelation to Observer Online after Leighton turned in another eye-catching display, this time scoring the winner for Phoenix Chapelton Maroons in their 2-1 win over Harbour View on Sunday.
“Sean has been recalled to Genk and will also travel to Chelsea. Both clubs have a serious interest in our wonderkid,” said Butler.
The 17-year-old Leighton, who is tall, skilful and packs a powerful shot, was invited to Genk in 2023 before returning and helped Mona High win their first Manning Cup title. He was also there as an eight-year-old and trained with the Genk Under-9 team.
Leighton also won the Walker Cup for Mona in 2024, and this year, he scored 23 goals and was the Manning Cup’s leading goalscorer.
Leighton will also make a return to Chelsea, where they will have another look at him.
Leighton will be joined by 20-year-old Gordon, who was a part of that winning Mona team in 2023 and 16-year-old midfielder Morton, who scored eight goals for Mona High. He has been called up to the St Kitts and Nevis senior national team.
The Phoenix Academy has produced a number of players to the overseas market, most notably Leon Bailey and Dujuan Richards.
Bailey was signed by Genk in 2015 as an 18-year-old before moving to Bayer Leverkusen in Germany in 2017. Aston Villa in England snapped him up in 2021, and he is now at Roma in Italy on loan.
The 20-year-old Richards has been at Chelsea since 2024, having come through the Phoenix ranks.