CINDERFORD youngster Luke Thomas has called his transfer to Championship club Derby County ’a dream come true’ after leaving Cheltenham Town last week.

Thomas, the 16-year-old brother of Cinderford Town captain Keiran, completed a two-and-a-half year deal with the Rams after passing his medical last Thursday.

It is believed that County paid Cheltenham Town £100,000 to secure Thomas’ signature.

“I’m just very excited to start this new challenge in my life,” Thomas said.

“It’s just a great club with great facilities, and they want to bring youth through.

“It’s a dream come true. To have signed my first professional contract was just amazing for me and my family.”

The Soudley-raised youngster has been on the radar of several big clubs over the past few months since trialling for Portuguese giants Benfica.

The two-time European Cup winners offered Thomas a trial while he was on a summer training camp with Cheltenham.

Although Benfica chose not to take him on, his performance in Portugal and throughout Cheltenham Town’s Youth FA Cup run attracted the attention of sides including Premier League side Southampton.

It was rumoured that Thomas was the subject of a £50,000 bid from the Saints, while Cheltenham chairman Paul Baker confirmed in November that an offer from Derby for the same amount was rejected.

Thomas made his long-awaited debut and only first team appearance for Cheltenham in their 3-1 FA Trophy First Round win over Chelmsford last month.

Following that milestone, scouts from the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur were reportedly in attendance at the Robins’ FA Youth Cup tie at Leicester in the same week.