Rai Simons, the Bermuda striker, said it felt “unbelievable” to sign a two-year contract with Sky Bet League One promotion chasers Chesterfield.

Simons has been on Chesterfield’s radar for some time after his impressive performances for nearby non-League side Ilkeston in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League this season.

The 19-year-old admits he had always been confident of being snapped up by a Football League side, but was still in disbelief when he put pen to paper at the Proact Stadium.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Simons, who scored on his international debut for Bermuda in a friendly against Grenada at the National Stadium last month. “I can’t quite describe what it feels like right now.

“I was optimistic that I would sign [for a League side], but when it happened it was a bit of a shock, even though I did feel that it was coming together.

“I just want to finish the season as strong as possible, have a good World Cup campaign for Bermuda, and then come back for pre-season ready to go.”

Simons said he is determined to make a name for himself in England and follow in the footsteps of Nahki Wells, the Huddersfield Town striker, whom he spoke to before joining Chesterfield, who are in the play-off positions in sixth place.

“I got my first experience of playing alongside Nahki against Bahamas [in the World Cup qualifiers] and we had a few conversations about what I could expect and how to cope with everything,” Simons told The Royal Gazette.

“It’s a great move for me and I could be a Championship player by the summer if Chesterfield get promoted. I would certainly like to play against Nahki.

“When people mention my name I want them to associate me with the Nahkis and Shaun Goaters. Hopefully, it all works out.”

Once touted by Kyle Lightbourne, the former Stoke City striker, as the most talented Bermudian teenager he had seen, Simons hopes to be involved in Chesterfield’s first-team squad as soon as possible.

“I’ve got time to adjust to the different level and hopefully I can be around the first team pretty soon,” he said.

“If not, I will play for the reserves and try to impress the coaches and let them know that I’m capable of playing first-team football.”

Simons, who formerly had trials with West Ham United, believes that Chesterfield are a perfect fit for him location-wise.

“This move won’t be a big drastic change for me, as I already live in the Midlands area,” said Simons, whose agent, Dan Chapman, also represents Bermuda players Reggie Lambe, the Mansfield Town winger, and Freddy Hall, the Telford United goalkeeper.

“I just want to thank my agent for believing in me and getting scouts to come and watch me.”

Paul Cook, the Chesterfield manager, said he was delighted to have clinched Simons’s signature.

“Rai is someone we have tracked for a while,” said Cook, a former Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder. “We feel that he will develop as time goes on and have a bright future.”

Chesterfield, four points clear of seventh-placed Rochdale, having played a game more, continue their promotion push away to Barnsley away on Saturday.