Albion have taken on 12 first-year scholars to join the under-18s for the 2020/21 campaign.
Mark Beard’s side finished last season sixth in Premier League South, picking up 24 points from 17 matches before the campaign finished prematurely because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Progressing from the under-16s are Zak Sturge, Jaami Qureshi, John Lucero, Toby Collyer and Marcus Ifill.
Arriving from other clubs both in the UK and abroad are Casper Nilsson (Malmo FF), Cameron Peupion (Sydney FC), Zac Emmerson (Oldham Athletic), Ben Jackson (Watford), Samy Couchane (AC Boulogne-Billancourt) and Andy Moran and Leigh Kavanagh, who have joined from League of Ireland club Bray Wanderers.
Head coach Beard said, “It’s the start of their journey, but they can’t think that they have made it yet. This is just the first step in what will hopefully be a long career.
“But there’s an excellent opportunity and facilities for them to improve. The club has got a state of the art training ground and away from normal training they’ll have access to strength and condition coaches. So they’ve got to enjoy it, as well as give absolutely everything every day.
“We’ve got a good mix of boys who have been here years, but we’ve also got lads coming from abroad and other clubs. It’s an interesting time and it will be a testing time for some of them being away from their families.
“For the boys who have been at the club for a long time it’s important for their development to work with players from different backgrounds, not just the ones they have become used to.
“We keep preaching to them it’s the best job in the world because you’re getting paid to play football and work closely with your mates.
“But if you don’t give 100% you’ll soon fall behind because they have got absolutely everything they need at the training ground to improve.”