Matthew Guillaumier (right) with Luxol St Andrew’s chairman Paul Falzon.

Promising Luxol St Andrew’s player Matthew Guillaumier is to continue his career in Italy after securing a move to Empoli.

Massimiliano Cappellini, head of the youth sector at Empoli, was instrumental in helping Guillaumier, a key member of the national youth squads (born 1997 and 1998), fulfil his dream of playing abroad.

The 15-year-old joined the Luxol academy when he was only five and his potential was evident from the start as Guillaumier won his first best player award, voted for by the club’s youth coaches, at the age of six.

Luxol continued to nurture Guillaumier’s talent and last April, he made his debut for the senior team in the Division One game against Gudja United, aged only 15 years and 17 days. Also part of the St Andrew’s team that day was Guillaumier’s uncle, midfielder Joseph Farrugia.

Recently, Guillaumier was among the scorers for the Malta U-17 team in the 3-2 away win over Wales in a friendly match.

Serie B club Empoli boast one of the best youth academies in Italy. Their complex houses five training pitches and a gym while their qualified coaches train over 400 youngsters from the Tuscan region.

Guillaumier’s regular training stints with Empoli over the past year have brought him closer to the club’s youth squad.

The Luxol starlet has also had trials with English clubs Birmingham and West Bromwich Albion while Italian sides Chievo and Siena also showed interest in him but he opted for Empoli.

“All this could not have been possible without Guillaumier’s dedication, hard work, knowledge and passion for the game,” St Andrew’s said in a statement.