More of Dartford’s young players have been tipped for the big time after Ebou Adams left the club this week to sign for Norwich.

Midfielder Adams, 20, joined the Premier League side for an undisclosed fee and has signed an 18-month deal at Carrow Road.

Co-chairman Steve Irving says the transfer vindicates the work Darts have put into their academy and the decision to stand by first-team manager Tony Burman following two relegations.

Burman is integral to the club’s youth structure and he accompanied Adams to Norwich on Monday at the player’s request.

Mr Irving said: "It’s potentially the biggest deal we’ve ever had.

"I’m not going to disclose the figures but it’s a good deal, both short-term and long-term.

"It’s a good up-front deal but it’s also good for him, if he progresses, and it’s good for the club moving forward. There’s appearance add-ons as well as a sell-on clause.

"This is vindication of all the hard work we’ve put into the academy programme and Tony’s understanding of how important the academy is to the club now.

"There’s more to come, I’m sure. There’s Ronnie Vint and Kaka Dembele, who are ones for the future and other clubs are watching them.

"There’s also the second-year academy boys – look at Ben Francis and Dajon Golding, they’re being watched.

"There’s other players who are first years who look fantastic and the way the youth development centre is being nurtured by Phil Murray and Sean Scolding, there’s young boys coming through there that will get to the academy.

"Next year’s academy intake will mainly come out of our under-16s in the youth development centre."

One of Burman’s great passions at Dartford is developing a conveyor belt of young talent which carries players from the pre-academy programme all the way into his first team.

He said: "It’s a massive boost when these things happen but I don’t think he’s the only one.

"We’ve got to promote from within. There’s a lot of things in place now and the conveyor belt will start.

"We’ll either get players who move on or we’ll get players who are good for the team and the squad and they’ll stay with us for a long time.

"I’m delighted for Ebou and to see the smile on his face at the moment is fantastic.

"I’d love to have him in my team, playing for the club but you have to realise that, unfortunately, at this moment in time, we are a part-time club and I don’t want to stop people having opportunities like this.

"Ebou’s joining a good Premier League club. We’ve dealt with Norwich before and they’ve handled everything superbly.

"What they’re saying they want for him, it moves him another step forward.

"He’s got a real good chance and I’m sure he’s going to grab it with both hands."