Seasons2017-18Everton News
Young Blues trio sign new contracts

The club have announced that Kenny and Holgate have put pen to paper on new contracts that tie them to Goodison Park until June 2022 while Calvert-Lewin has signed on until the summer of 2023.
The improved and extended terms are a reward for their impressive recent performances in the first team and an acknowledgement that all three are important members of the Blues' squad.
Calvert-Lewin, 20, was acquired last year in a £1.1m deal from Sheffield United and had been expected to spend time in the Blues Under-23s setup while he honed his craft.
He was blooded ahead of schedule by Ronald Koeman last term, however, and has been asked to take centre stage this season following the departure of Romelu Lukaku and has scored six times in all competitions and registered four assists in the Premier League.
“It's an exciting time to be here and, for me, learning from players such as Wayne Rooney couldn't be better for my ongoing development,” Calvert-Lewin said.
Holgate, an acquisition from Barnsley two years ago for a reported £1m, has been used primarily as an emergency fullback under the last two Everton managers but has been excelling recently in his preferred role as a centre-half.
Like Calvert-Lewin, his new deal is a one-year extension to his existing contract and he said of the news:
“It is a good time to be young at Everton. You get a lot of chances. Every now and then, clubs get a spurt of players from the same generation coming through and hopefully that is what is happening here.”
Kenny, meanwhile, has come through Everton's renowned Finch Farm youth system having joined the club as a nine-year-old. He was one of the five Blues players who played in England's Under-20 World Cup-winning team this past summer and has been a more than able deputy for the injured Seamus Coleman in recent weeks.
He has agreed to a three-year extension on his previous deal which was set to expire in 2019.
“I want to stay at Everton for as long as I can but I know I've got to keep on playing week in, week out, playing well and impressing,” he said.
Reader Comments (56)
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
2 Posted 14/12/2017 at 18:17:53
3 Posted 14/12/2017 at 18:18:29
4 Posted 14/12/2017 at 18:19:16
5 Posted 14/12/2017 at 18:19:54
6 Posted 14/12/2017 at 18:20:42
7 Posted 14/12/2017 at 18:24:39
8 Posted 14/12/2017 at 18:26:39
It feels like the summer is back!! Hope this current bubble doesn't burst so quickly.
9 Posted 14/12/2017 at 18:29:44
Dominic already looks 10 times the player Kone or Valencia were and Jonjoe is becoming the player we all hoped for.
Mason is looking solid alongside his buddy Ashley Williams, so all-round a happier place than we were a few months ago.
10 Posted 14/12/2017 at 18:35:44
I read all the threads although I try not to get too involved, and I've noticed in the last few days there seems to be a few contributors exceeding the limit, and I confess that I too am guilty of doing so.
My plea for clemency, is that I thought that I may well have missed the armistice declaration.
11 Posted 14/12/2017 at 18:38:13
Do not let this great club down. It's a blessing.
12 Posted 14/12/2017 at 18:46:31
I was growing concerned that he was perched awkwardly between fullback and centreback, without quite fitting the mold of either, but his pairing with Williams these past few matches has looked very heartening indeed.
13 Posted 14/12/2017 at 19:08:00
I have to admit I'm still unsure about Dominic. He's improved in difficult circumstances. but he is not a good finisher and needs to be more aggressive. Happy to keep an open mind. A good day for the club.
14 Posted 14/12/2017 at 19:15:19
15 Posted 14/12/2017 at 19:25:48
16 Posted 14/12/2017 at 19:34:04
I'd like Barkley put his John Hancock on a new contract; trouble is he will be able to command a bigger wage packet now This situation has been largely caused by that jerk Koeman, to add to his other many mess ups.
I actually think he will sign a new contract with the club; I hope he does.
17 Posted 14/12/2017 at 19:44:30
I'm too lazy to surf the interweb to find out, can someone please enlighten me?
18 Posted 14/12/2017 at 19:49:45
Ross must be giving it some thought. If he wants out of Merseyside, why not just move to Cheshire?
19 Posted 14/12/2017 at 19:52:49
20 Posted 14/12/2017 at 20:05:32
21 Posted 14/12/2017 at 20:06:53
22 Posted 14/12/2017 at 20:24:04
Holgate has surprised me as I thought he was awful at centre back against Lyon at home (when he gave that penalty away early) but he has improved and the jury is still out imo if he can stay there. Tom Davies has gone backwards from last season but like Holgate he might improve.
Lookman is the one for me, he has everything and can score goals but he needs to get the physical side of his game sorted out, as he seems too nice and needs more of Jonjoe Kenny's temperament when he gets his chance.
23 Posted 14/12/2017 at 20:34:54
24 Posted 14/12/2017 at 20:39:12
Kenny starting to impress especially against Liverpool.
Holgate maturing well at centre-back.
No-brainer to sign them up.
Hopefully the new coaching team can help develop Davies, Baningime, Lookman and Vlasic too – and it would be great to get Dowell and Onyekuru back.
We could do with an experienced striker, left back and centre back.
Some of the squad just aren't worth keeping – Mirallas, Besic – and some like Klaassen and Sandro you wonder what to do with them -– wait?
25 Posted 14/12/2017 at 20:46:06
Kenny has settled and is slowly adding the attacking component to his role we all know he's capable of.
Holgate like many players, benefiting from being played in his position and regularly.
Calvert-Lewin doing a job expected of a player more experienced than him.
Now I hope Allardyce backs this up with actions when he buys in January and keeps these three in the squad and team. This is a key element to me being more open to Sam.
26 Posted 14/12/2017 at 20:58:20
27 Posted 14/12/2017 at 21:00:12
28 Posted 14/12/2017 at 21:25:32
Sam could go for Seamus to play wide right what is currently the Lennon role. More solid at the back; more likely to score;
29 Posted 14/12/2017 at 21:28:19
Davies
Pickford
Holgate
Kenny
Lookman
Dowell
Vlasic
Not bad!
30 Posted 14/12/2017 at 21:35:41
He played there not long after he first broke into the team I recall, just in-front of Hibbert.
31 Posted 14/12/2017 at 21:39:54
Hope we could tie Dowell down to a longer contract as well.
32 Posted 14/12/2017 at 21:55:52
33 Posted 14/12/2017 at 22:15:11
All of these young guns at Everton play the game the way you hope they would; enthusiasm, adventure, technique, hard work and with a smile on their face. David Unsworth has done an excellent job of developing the Academy talent. In the words of the less than dearly departed... PHENOMENAL!
(Ducks for cover!)
34 Posted 14/12/2017 at 22:20:04
I know he's not a lot of people's cup of tea but I think Ashley Williams gives it all he's got in every game, and that's one thing Evertonians always look out for in my view.
35 Posted 14/12/2017 at 22:43:06
36 Posted 14/12/2017 at 22:58:24
At the risk of being lacerated by your intelligence and wit, how in the hell is Barkley a "snake"??? Boy wanted more money and was being treated like shit by Koeman!
Good news on the hat-trick youth signings!
37 Posted 14/12/2017 at 23:25:15
“Jonjoe's decision-making for such a young man is very impressive and part of the reason he makes the game look simple. He is also an excellent defender, very grounded as an individual and he has an innate desire to succeed. He's hungry and his choice of ball possession is first-class for a young man. He is an outstanding young man at full-back."
38 Posted 14/12/2017 at 23:25:51
“I've made the point before that Jonjoe's decision-making for such a young man is very impressive and part of the reason he makes the game look simple.
“He is also an excellent defender, very grounded as an individual and he has an innate desire to succeed. He's hungry and his choice of ball possession is first-class for a young man. He is an outstanding young man at full-back.
I am warming to Big Sam by the day. For the first time in a long while, I can understand the Everton manager's post match comments and feel we were watching the same game.
Like the others on this thread, who watch the U23s, I would be very disappointed were we to lose Liam Walsh. I hope the Bristol City interest is for a loan.
39 Posted 14/12/2017 at 23:28:28
40 Posted 14/12/2017 at 23:46:08
"I'd like to offer a nod to Ashley Williams for his recent displays centre-backs need a partner, and without Williams I think Holgate would have struggled".
I agree, James. I also think it has something to do with one of them, Holgate, being comfortable on the ball, which Williams isn't (ditto Jags). So we don't get the ball being passed to and from Williams and Jags, as neither wants responsibility to move the ball on. So Williams, I guess, has more confidence in playing alongside Holgate in such situations.
41 Posted 14/12/2017 at 23:51:31
42 Posted 14/12/2017 at 23:58:50
James, 36 - good points well made. I'm one of those who thinks Williams one of the crudest top-flight centre-halves ever, but he is top-flight class because he defends like he means it and shows leadership. That must have been helping Holgate.
43 Posted 14/12/2017 at 00:21:53
Everton have a number of other good prospects: even Keane is only 24 and should be able to prove himself. Davies is another young player who appears to have lost his confidence just lately. Fans need to be delighted to have such good prospects, but they also need to accept times when they do not play well. That is when they need the "Blue" support the most.
It must be devastating for a young player to have forty thousand people jeering at you and writing in letters saying you were "crap". Most people in regular jobs have enough difficulty when their boss, just one person, tells them that they aren't working hard enough. Imagine if you had an entire factory or office screaming and swearing at you and telling you that you are crap and have no chance of ever being anything but useless. Those kids need you far more than you need them!!!
In time, they may unite to play like Man City are now. However, remember Man City fans have put up with far more rubbish and bad times than any Everton fan ever did. Unfortunately today, money, along with great coaching and patience, has provided them with a team that every football purist really admires even if you hate their guts.
I have seen my beloved Blues win the league and the Cup. I have also seen them relegated. Perhaps our time will come again... If so it would be really great to have our young, home grown players in that team. If so they will need your cheers and not your jeers.
44 Posted 15/12/2017 at 01:35:29
As for my wit? I suppose a lot must get lost in translation.
So I guess Ross Barkley not signing his new record-breaking wage structure Soccer Contract with the Everton blue franchise may annoy some Everton patrons?
45 Posted 15/12/2017 at 06:44:57
46 Posted 15/12/2017 at 08:40:32
Encouraging words from Sam too.
Lookman, Vlasic and Baningime are going to be outstanding too, the future is looking good.
47 Posted 15/12/2017 at 09:06:25
49 Posted 15/12/2017 at 10:49:39
50 Posted 15/12/2017 at 13:29:20
On the OS, he reckons Mason Holgate is too good looking to be a centre-half to me, there speaks a man that appears to be very comfortable in his job...
51 Posted 15/12/2017 at 14:04:53
Yes sorry about Beni, blame Ian for that. I just thought automatically that Beni Baningime was on Ian's list!!!!
52 Posted 15/12/2017 at 15:18:34
Calling a man by his last name only would be more of an "affectionate" greeting in the States. Not meant to be flippant but rather, over here, a greeting more of congeniality. And again, the "intelligence and wit" was a compliment you're no dummy. As you say, lost in translation.
Points taken. I don't blame Ross a bit. I'd actually argue with Koeman at the helm he realized he was on the outs, and no amount of money mattered if he wasn't playing. I actually am hoping he signs.
53 Posted 15/12/2017 at 15:22:14
The real task to keep a hold of Barkley and this trio is not just making them sign a paper which entitles us to a big fee if they leave, but making us a big enough stage for them to spend their best years with us.
So yes, good news we have locked in the rights to a fee but Mr Moshiri still needs to keep delivering the goods to ensure that our best talent remains at the club if they are good enough. That includes Ross Barkley.
54 Posted 15/12/2017 at 15:50:32
A point about Tom Davies, who I think will be a tremendous asset in future. I'm not too concerned about his recent downturn which can only be expected in a young player and was probably not helped by 3 different management teams within 6 months, all with different methods of dealing with tactics etc.
Finally, not quite on subject but has anybody else noticed the general improvement by contributors recently? Much less foul language and more thoughtful comments still many different views, of course.
55 Posted 15/12/2017 at 16:44:58
56 Posted 15/12/2017 at 18:18:23
57 Posted 16/12/2017 at 02:29:34
Hope to see Garbutt added to the senior squad come January.
I believe some of the dead weight in the squad needs to be offloaded as well, such as Mirallas, Schneiderlin, and (the injury prone) McCarthy. I haven't seen anything from Klaassen to see what he brings to the team either.
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.
1 Posted 14/12/2017 at 18:10:30
Would love some positive news on Barkely, but it might take a miracle to turn him round. I think he's been ill-advised. Hope for the best and all that.