The 18-year-old duo have both been at the club for many years as they climbed up through the youth ranks, and last week it was confirmed that after recently turning 18 they have been offered their first professional contracts at Hillsborough.

Thornton, an attack-minded midfielder, and Johnson, a left back, were regulars this season as they helped Wednesday’s U18s to a third-place finish in the Professional Development League, while the former has also been a big part of the U21s that finished in the same position in their division.

The Star understands that terms have now been agreed between the players and the club, with the teenage duo set to pen their first professional deals at S6 in the near future as they focus on trying to take the next steps in the 2024/25 campaign.

Bruno Fernandes, Jack Phillips and Devlan Moses were the other U18s to have been offered pro terms this summer ahead of the upcoming season, and the Owls will be hoping to make sure that all three stick around in order to be part of things – Tyrell Dawes and Carlos Rodrigues were the ones who were released.

Wednesday have had some joy in their academy ranks of late, with Bailey Cadamarteri rising up into the first team and Pierce Charles becoming a regular in senior sessions, and both have received international call-ups on the back of their progress in S6.

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