---
title: "Kauno Žalgiris academy midfielder Adomas Užkurnys signs first professional deal"
date: 2026-01-13T12:09:20Z
lang: en
author: "Ivo"
canonical: https://balticfootballnews.com/kauno-zalgiris-academy-midfielder-adomas-uzkurnys-signs-first-professional-deal/
categories: ["Toplyga", "Transfers"]
---

# Kauno Žalgiris academy midfielder Adomas Užkurnys signs first professional deal
Kauno Žalgiris have handed 16-year-old midfielder **Adomas Užkurnys** his first professional contract at the start of 2026, rewarding another graduate of the club’s football academy.

Užkurnys has been a regular in Lithuania’s youth national-team set-up and made his senior breakthrough in 2025 with Kauno Žalgiris B in the second-tier Pirma lyga. He featured 12 times and scored once.

“_It’s a really good feeling because you don’t sign a contract every day_,” Užkurnys told the club’s website. “_It’s a big achievement and it will push me to aim for even more_.”

The Kaunas-born player said he has been with the academy since childhood, thanking his coaches and naming Šarūnas Terleckis as a major influence. “_He brought me up from a young age and in football he was like a dad to me,_” Užkurnys said.

Užkurnys has also attracted interest from Italy, taking part in trials with Genoa in the spring of 2025 and Pisa in December. “_I think it went really well_,” he said. “_The most interesting part was training with older players. I also played with members of Italy’s youth national teams, so it was fun and really interesting_.”

Describing his style, Užkurnys said he aims to make unexpected decisions in possession. “_I’d say I’m a distinctive player_,” he added. “_I want to start training with the first team and make my A Lyga debut, and also establish myself in the B team and win a medal_.”

Source: [zalgiris.lt](https://zalgiris.lt/naujienos/16-metis-adomas-uzkurnys-pasirase-pirma-profesionalu-kontrakta-su-fk-kauno-zalgiriu)