Season › 2014-15 › News

Everton hand Ryan Ledson professional deal

Lyndon Lloyd , 19 August, 16comments  |  Jump to most recent
Everton and England youth prospect Ryan Ledson has celebrated his 17th birthday by signing a professional contract with the club.

The midfielder, a regular now in the Under-21s side and captain of England U17s European Championship-winning team earlier this year, has agreed a three-year deal.

Ledson was also included in the first team squad for the first time at the end of last season as Roberto Martinez primes him to potentially make the step up to senior duty in the coming months.

"I'm delighted," Ledson told evertontv. "I've been here since I was a young kid and this is what you strive towards. The day has finally come, so I'm made up.

"For me, it's been 12 years of hard work at Everton Football Club to get to this day, but there is no better place to be and I'm absolutely over the moon."  

Reader Comments (16)

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Craig Fletcher
1 Posted 19/08/2014 at 21:39:31
Congratulations to the lad.

Bobby I imagine will include him in a few first-team squads this season; hope to see him get some game time, perhaps in the Europe league.

Patrick Murphy
2 Posted 19/08/2014 at 21:47:01
Let's hope a bunch of these lads make the required standard and bolster the first-team in the years to come. Picking up on Ryan's comment "It's been 12 years of hard work" do we really take these lads at Five years of age - now I know where the all the money goes. Child-care these days is very expensive, unless of course you happen to be a grand-parent and there is no fee involved whatsoever.

James Flynn
3 Posted 19/08/2014 at 21:52:24
From being in here, I know who our youngsters are. But I don't get to see them.

Is Ledson the lad who someone in here saw play and commented that the kid was definitely in charge out there on the pitch. I'm pretty sure the comment was made regarding one of England's U-Teams.

Was it Ledson? It was one of our youngsters.

Rob Halligan
4 Posted 19/08/2014 at 22:32:40
Didn’t he captain England U17s when they won Euro U17 tournament? I remember him having a good game in one particular game. Can’t remember which one though.
Colin Glassar
6 Posted 20/08/2014 at 00:02:28
This lad will go right to the top. He's got everything.
Harold Matthews
7 Posted 20/08/2014 at 02:19:41
Yes. Another blue gem. Still a kid but gradually growing into a real man. His future looks bright.
Mike Childs
8 Posted 20/08/2014 at 10:07:36
Good to see our own being developed and hung onto. If you haven't got the financial clout that others do this is the best modes oporanti to work with.
Liam Reilly
9 Posted 20/08/2014 at 10:49:03
Good news - was surprised that this kid wasn't given a shirt number this season with the squad being so light on numbers. 10 minutes occasionally in the Europa League surely couldn't hurt his development.
Paul Andrews
10 Posted 20/08/2014 at 12:16:59
Always a big step from 17 to 21.

This kid has got everything in his locker: short passing, one- and two-touch, vision with the ability to play the pass he sees early, and aggression in abundance.

YouTube "Ryan Ledson tackle v Liverpool".

Steve Jenkins
11 Posted 20/08/2014 at 13:19:18
From the clips I’ve seen of the lad, he looks a quality prospect: nice touch, excellent passing range & gets stuck in.

Hopefully we’ll see him break through in some shape or form before the season’s out.

Peter Gorman
13 Posted 20/08/2014 at 20:50:29
@James Flynn

The lad is a natural winner. He was brilliant in the England U17 final against Holland. His composure in taking the penalty during the shootout (as the Dutch keeper attempted to put him off) was very remarkable and fills me with confidence that he wants to go far.

Phill Thompson
14 Posted 20/08/2014 at 22:32:59
I noticed a nice cameo in the lead up to U21's 1st goal against Leicester, a sweeping ball from Ledson out to the right wing, from there the cross lead to the goal. Typical of the touches he showed playing for England U21. Errrr his next touch shown wasn't so good, heavy back pass lead to an own goal, 50/50 blame with keeper I'd say.
Ant Dwyer
15 Posted 21/08/2014 at 02:14:22
Good stuff; keep these boys coming off our Â’School of ScienceÂ’ production line.

You never know – it may be Brewster next, he seems to be pretty lethal for our Under-18s ATM.

Harold Matthews
16 Posted 22/08/2014 at 11:48:07
Yes, Ant. Delial Brewster is built like a tank with lots of pace and a striker's instinct. Says he's working on his weaker foot and heading.

The U21s demonstrated the vulnerability of building up from the back when the opposition challenge high up with pace and ferocity. It happened to England and others in Brazil and it will happen to Everton in the Premier League. Martinez is aware of it and says it will just mean slight adjustments. Personally, I don't have a clue what he means. I just hope it works.

Jon Ferguson
17 Posted 22/08/2014 at 12:53:55
Delial Brewster is a new one on me. How old is he?
Harold Matthews
18 Posted 22/08/2014 at 13:50:42
I think he must be 17 now. Looks and sounds like a real hardcase. Born in Southport.

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