Everton Academy

Everton FC runs a category 1 academy based in the North West. They have an elite youth development program that nurtures young talent.

The Academy’s official X (formerly Twitter) account is @EvertonAcademy.

Academy Competitions

Each season, the Academy competes across the standard slate of competitions for Category One clubs:

• U18 Premier League – split into North and South divisions; Everton’s Under-18s play in the North League.
• U17 & U18 Premier League Cup – introduced by the Premier League in 2017; seven group winners plus the best runner-up (by points, goal difference, then head-to-head) progress to the quarter-finals.
• Premier League 2 – since 2023, all Category One academies play in a single Swiss-style league, with entry and removal governed by Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) accreditation criteria.
• U21 Premier League Cup – introduced in the 2013/14 season to add a knockout tournament alongside the regular Professional Development Phase league schedule, featuring nine groups with the top team in each group plus the seven best runners-up advancing to the knockout stage.
• Premier League International Cup – teams are split into four groups of eight, each comprising four UK-based Under-21 sides and four invited overseas clubs represented by their development squads, with the top two in each group advancing to the knockout stage.
• Vertu Trophy (EFL Trophy) – a midweek knockout competition for EFL League One and League Two clubs, plus 16 invited Premier League and Championship clubs with Category One academies, regionalised from the group stage through to the quarter-finals.
• National League Cup – a 32-team midweek competition comprising 16 Under-21 sides from Premier League 2 and 16 National League club first teams.
• FA Youth Cup – the traditional nationwide knockout competition open to academy sides across English football.
• Liverpool County FA Senior Cup – a county knockout competition contested by Everton’s Under-21s alongside senior sides from across the region.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Under-18 Coach Keith Southern, Under-21 Coach Paul Tait, and Individual Development Lead Coach Nick Chadwick.

In April 2026, Everton announced the appointment of Dean Rastrick as the club’s new Academy Director, officially taking up the role on 1 June and overseeing all areas of the Academy with a focus on talent development, creating an elite environment, and strengthening pathways into the senior team.

Full details of players retained, released, or returned from loan following the 2024/25 season can be found on the club’s official retained list.

Scholars 2025/26

Seve Patrick (Goalkeeper), Lewis Evans (Defender), Harvey Billington (Defender), John Dodds (Defender), Malik Olayiwola (Midfielder), Freddie Murdock (Midfielder), Shea Pita (Forward), Amari Moses (Forward), Ray Robert (Forward).

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• Francis Okoronkwo (Forward) – Lincoln City; Doncaster Rovers
• Martin Sherif (Forward) – Rotherham United; Port Vale
• Fraser Barnsley (Goalkeeper) – Marine AFC
• Isaac Heath (Forward) – Accrington Stanley
• Tyler Onyango (Midfielder) – Stockport County
• Odin Samuels-Smith (Defender) – Marine AFC
• Harrison Armstrong (Midfielder) – Preston North End
• Tyrell Sellars-Fleming (Forward) – Scunthorpe United
• Will Tamen (Defender) – Tranmere Rovers
• Roman Dixon (Defender) – Stockport County
• Elijah Campbell (Defender) – Port Vale
• Jack Patterson (Midfielder) – ŁKS Łódź
• Travis Patterson (Defender) – Annecy
• George Pickford (Goalkeeper) – Southport

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Elijah Campbell (Defender, #71), Reece Welch (Defender, #64).

International Players 2025/26

• Jake Doughty (MF) – England U16
• Jonathan Nsangou (FW) – England U16
• Reuben Gokah (DF) – England U17
• Malik Olayiwola (MF) – England U17
• Shea Pita (MF) – Wales U17
• Luis Gardner (MF) – Wales U19
• Douglass Lukjanciks (GK) – England U19
• Harrison Armstrong (MF) – England U19
• George Pickford (GK) – England U20
• Fraser Barnsley (GK) – Northern Ireland U21
• Braiden Graham (FW) – Northern Ireland U19; U21; First Team
• Jack Patterson (MF) – Northern Ireland U21

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Premier League Cup, Everton’s Under-17s were drawn in Group C against Under-17 sides from Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester City.

In the U18 Premier League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group C against Bristol City, Southampton and Wolves.

For the Premier League International Cup, the Under-21s were grouped with Real Madrid, RB Leipzig, PSV Eindhoven and Monaco, alongside fellow English sides Wolves, Manchester City and Southampton.

In the Vertu Trophy, the Under-21s were drawn in Northern Group C against Bradford City, Doncaster Rovers and Grimsby Town.

Finally in the National League Cup, the Under-21s were drawn in Group A against Brackley Town, Rochdale, Solihull Moors and Tamworth, with all fixtures played away from home.

Season Timeline

June 2025

• Fraser Barnsley, Callum Bates, Eli Campbell, Coby Ebere, Isaac Heath and Jack Patterson were offered new contracts.
• Scholars George Finney, Harvey Foster, Luca Davis, Aled Thomas and Joshua van Schoor were presented with their first professional deals.

July 2025

• 20-year-old defender Elijah Campbell signed a new two-year contract with Everton, keeping him at the club until June 2027.
• Academy midfielder Harvey Foster signed his first professional contract, committing his future to the club until June 2027.
• 18-year-old centre-back Luca Davis signed his first professional contract, securing his stay at the club until the end of June 2027.
• Scotland youth international Ceiran Loney signed his first professional contract, agreeing to a two-year deal until June 2027.
• Defender Aled Thomas signed his first professional contract, agreeing a two-year deal until the end of June 2027.
• Winger Coby Ebere signed a new two-year deal, committing his future to Everton until the end of June 2027.
• Northern Ireland youth international Jack Patterson signed a new two-year contract until the end of June 2027.
• Isaac Heath, Everton’s Under-21s Player of the Season, agreed to a new two-year deal until the end of June 2027.
• George Finney signed his first professional contract, agreeing a two-year deal until the end of June 2027.
• Left-back Josh van Schoor signed his first professional deal, committing to a two-year contract until the end of June 2027.
• Midfielder Callum Bates agreed a new two-year deal, keeping him at the club until June 2027.
• Midfielder Jenson Metcalfe left Everton to join Bradford City on a three-year deal, having joined the Blues aged five and spent the previous season on loan at Chesterfield.
• Under-21s goalkeeper Fraser Barnsley signed a new two-year contract, keeping him at the club until June 2027.

August 2025

• Everton completed the signing of 16-year-old defender Reuben Gokah, who joined the club’s Academy from Charlton Athletic.
• Everton’s Under-17s clinched the 2025 Geneva Cup, retaining the title they had won in 2024.
• Under-21 winger Justin Clarke signed his first professional contract, agreeing to a three-year deal until June 2028.

October 2025

• Under-18s forward Ray Robert signed his first professional contract, agreeing to a three-year deal until June 2028.
• Forward Jonathan Nsangou received a call-up to the England Under-16 squad for matches against Wales, Türkiye and Portugal.

November 2025

• George Pickford was added as a late call-up to the England Under-20 squad for their match against Japan.
• Everton’s Under-18s were drawn away to Millwall in the FA Youth Cup third round.

December 2025

• Everton’s Under-18s progressed to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, where they were drawn at home against West Ham.

January 2026

• Under-18s midfielder Amari Moses signed his first professional contract, committing his future to the club until June 2028.
• Midfielder Malik Olayiwola signed his first professional contract, penning a deal until June 2028.
• Everton defender John Dodds signed his first professional contract, committing his future to the club until June 2028 on a three-year deal.

February 2026

• Everton Under-18s defender Reuben Gokah, an England youth international who joined the club the previous summer, signed his first professional contract, keeping him at Everton until June 2028.
• Under-21s goalkeeper George Pickford signed a new deal with the Toffees, keeping him at the club until June 2028.

April 2026

• Everton announced the appointment of Dean Rastrick as the club’s new Academy Director, officially taking up the role on 1 June.

May 2026

• Under-21s duo George Pickford and Braiden Graham were shortlisted for the Premier League 2 Player of the Season award.
• The Under-21s’ league season concluded with a PDL Play-off semi-final exit at Huddersfield Town.
• Everton forward Shea Pita, a 17-year-old Wales youth international who enjoyed a breakthrough season stepping up to Under-21s football, signed his first professional contract, keeping him at the club until June 2028.

2024/25 Season

A proud 2024/25 season saw Everton Academy’s Under-18s reach the quarter-finals of the U18 Premier League Cup and the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup.

Meanwhile, the Under-21s advanced to the Premier League 2 Round of 16 knockout stage and lifted the Liverpool County FA Senior Cup.

Gareth Prosser served as Academy Director throughout the campaign, with Keith Southern as Under-18 Head Coach.

Scholars 2024/25

Ademide Akarakiri (Midfielder), Freddie Freedman (Defender), Luis Gardner (Midfielder), Goodness Gospel-Eze (Goalkeeper), Braiden Graham (Forward), Rocco Lambert (Midfielder)

Ceiran Loney (Forward), Douglass Lukjanciks (Goalkeeper), Melvin Matos (Midfielder), Louis Poland (Defender), Charlie Stewart (Forward), Kean Wren (Forward).

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Francis Okoronkwo (Forward) – Salford City
• Jenson Metcalfe (Midfielder) – Chesterfield
• Tyler Onyango (Midfielder) – Stockport County
• Elijah Campbell (Defender) – Ross County
• Reece Welch (Defender) – KMSK Deinze
• Harry Tyrer (Goalkeeper) – Blackpool
• Harrison Armstrong (Midfielder) – Derby County
• Bradley Moonan (Defender) – Prescot Cables
• Francis Gomez (Midfielder) – Olympique Lyonnais

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Harrison Armstrong (Midfielder, #45), Martin Sherif (Forward, #67), Luke Butterfield (Midfielder, #69), Roman Dixon (Defender, #75), Bradley Moonan (Defender, #72), Owen Baker (Midfielder, #79), Isaac Heath (Forward, #83).

International Players 2024/25

• Freddie Murdock (MF) – Northern Ireland U16
• Malik Olayiwola (MF) – England U16
• Shea Pita (FW) – Wales U16; U17
• Levi Kendrick (DF) – Wales U17
• Luis Gardner (MF) – Wales U17
• George Pickford (GK) – England U18
• Douglas Lukjanciks (GK) – England U18
• Harrison Armstrong (MF) – England U18
• Braiden Graham (FW) – Northern Ireland U19
• Aled Thomas (DF) – Wales U19
• George Morgan (FW) – Wales U19
• Elijah Campbell (DF) – England U20
• Fraser Barnsley (GK) – Northern Ireland U21
• Omari Benjamin (FW) – Wales U21
• Francis Gomez (MF) – Gambia First Team

Goalkeeper George Pickford was included in the Under-18s squad for the first time as the Young Lions competed for the Tri Nations Trophy at St George’s Park, facing Northern Ireland and Morocco.

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Premier League Cup, Everton’s Under-17s were drawn in Group F against Under-17 sides from Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City and Fleetwood Town.

For the U18 Premier League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group D against West Ham, Southampton and Nottingham Forest.

In the U21 Premier League Cup, the Under-21s were drawn in Group F against Ipswich Town, Watford and Cardiff City.

Season Timeline

August 2024

• Everton Academy signed 18-year-old midfielder Francis Gomez from Nigerian club Sporting Supreme, with the player set to spend the 2024/25 season on loan at Olympique Lyonnais.
• Roman Dixon and Harrison Armstrong were presented with match balls to mark their senior Premier League debuts earlier that season.

November 2024

• Everton were drawn at home to Nottingham Forest in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.
• An innovative EFL loan opportunity was arranged for Charlie Whitaker and Luke Butterfield at Stockport County.

December 2024

• Everton’s Under-18s progressed to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.
• Everton were set to host Wolverhampton Wanderers in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.

January 2025

• The Under-18s returned to Goodison Park for their fourth-round FA Youth Cup tie against Wolves.
• Tyler Onyango was recalled from his loan spell at Stockport County.
• Charlie Whitaker completed a permanent move to Notts County, having originally joined Everton at the age of twelve.
• Everton’s Under-18s advanced to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup.
• Everton’s Under-18s were set to face Plymouth Argyle in the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup at Walton Hall Park, the dedicated home of Everton Women.
• Stanley Mills completed a permanent transfer to Oxford United for an undisclosed fee.

February 2025

• Everton’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup campaign came to an end in the fifth round, following their tie against Plymouth Argyle.
• Everton midfielder Sean McAllister joined Marine AFC on a permanent deal.

March 2025

• Kingsford Boakye became the first Blues player to score from open play at Everton’s new stadium, during a second test event that saw the Under-21s play in front of more than 25,000 supporters.

April 2025

• Everton’s Under-16s took part in the Al Ain International Juniors Tournament at the Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium, facing FK Partizan Belgrade, Pafos FC, Grêmio, Urawa Red Diamonds and hosts Al Ain.
• Everton’s Under-21s were drawn against Manchester United’s Under-21s in the Premier League 2 Round of 16.
• Everton’s Under-21s’ Premier League 2 campaign came to an end at the Round of 16 stage, following their tie against Manchester United.

May 2025

• Everton’s Under-21s were crowned Liverpool County FA Senior Cup champions for the first time in nine years.
• Isaac Heath was named Everton Under-21 Player of the Season for 2024/25.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

Owen Barker, Jack Butler, Luke Butterfield (joined Chesterfield), Billy Crellin, Matthew Apter (joined Cardiff City), Zan-Luk Leban (joined NK Celje), Jack Tierney.