MacKenzie Hunt 58

As a 17-year-old, Mackenzie Hunt was a key figure for Paul Tait's U18 team in the 2018-19 season, helping the young Blues to a 3rd-place finish in the U18 Premier League (North) table and reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup.

With 18 appearances in the League and 7 in cup competitions, he also won the Under-18s' Goal of the Season prize for his stunning long-range effort in the Toffees' Youth Cup victory over Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium.

Mackenzie grew up in Dubai where his dad works in the construction industry. But Mackenzie returned to England as a youngster, with his mum, and first joined Everton aged 6, so he could develop through the Academy.

“I get out to Dubai once a year every summer,” Hunt says. “I miss everything about Dubai. The lifestyle, the weather, my friends – everything about it. It was tough leaving. Not just leaving my dad and my brother but leaving all my friends. It was a big sacrifice – especially for my mum. I have to thank her a lot. It was a proud moment to get my contract. I’ve worked really hard to get where I am.”

Hunt played with Go-Pro in Dubai, where academy director Kirk Hilton – a former Manchester United squad member under Alex Ferguson – reports that seven of his former youngsters are signed with professional clubs. Hunt, Hilton says, is “a fantastic player”. “I expect him to make it. I’m not saying he’s definitely going to make it at Everton but I expect him to make it as a professional footballer and have a career in the game. I think he’s that good.”

Hunt believes he is at the perfect club to continue his progress:

“It means a lot to sign this first professional deal,” he told evertonfc.com. “I've been here for a long time and Everton have put a lot of trust in me.

“There is a great team of people here. Everyone supports each other. The coaches are very supportive, all the players help each other, too. It's a fantastic place to be to improve as a player and that's what I want to keep doing."

Hunt signed a 3-year contract with Everton in July 2019 that would run until the end of June 2022.

However, he only played a handful of games for the U18s and U23s the following season. To his frustration, injury has marred much of it, with a recent ankle ligament operation set to keep him out for around 2 months and he would go on to play a very limited amount of football over the course of that 3-year contract.

Nevertheless, Hunt was offered and gladly accepted a 1-year contract in June 2022 with the prospect of establishing his place in Paul Tait's new Under-21s side.

FactFile

Squad number	58
Position	Midfielder
Nationality	England
Born	-
Date of birth	14 November 2001
Height	-

Joined from	Everton Academy
Turned Pro	7 July 2019
Signed under	Marco Silva
Transfer fee	No Fee
Contract duration	3 + 1 years
Contract expires	June 2023
Full debut	Under-23s Only