U18s striker Kouyate signs pro deal

Well done to the lad. Good luck in your future.

This lad was singled out by our ex academy chief as a name for the future. He's stepped up to U18-level last season. Big season for him, but great to see the club tie him down.

Well done to Katia for getting his first contract. It will be interesting to follow his progress, sounds like they have high hopes for him.

The likes of him and Simms need to be drafted into the first-team squad if Calvert-Lewin continues to be a 12-goal-a-season striker. Failing that, maybe Brands can finally do his job and find a natural finisher somewhere on the globe. Drastic I know but we can't push for top 6 /4 and indulge Calvert-Lewin, the way he continues to spurn chances.

Brian, I think this is a massive season for Calvert-Lewin. One which define him at Everton, one way or another.

He will become either an indispensable goal scorer or an important squad member. The chances will increase, he needs to prove he is the former. Regardless of that, he gives so much to the team he will always be needed as a squad player to give us options and strength in depth.

Unfortunately you can't coach natural finishing but I hope I'm wrong. I still say we need to find out now – not in a year – how good the likes of Simms are.

Brian, I agree some players are natural finishers and make it look easy. Simms has never been that, but the last three seasons the coaches have worked hard with him to get him to use his physical attributes and add more to his game.

He still requires more coaching as well as more games at a higher level and may take a bit longer to get there than the likes of Gordon and Dobbin. He's the type who after 4 or 5 years of hard work becomes an overnight sensation!

Good to see we're continuing to give pro contracts to our talented youngsters early, Kouyate is the first of the latest intake it looks like we've got in as soon as he turned 17.

I thought a player had to be 18 before he could sign a 3-year deal, it states on here Katia is 17. I can't find his birth date on any of his football sites.

Dave, I believe last time this came up the threshold was turning 17, at which point they could sign a professional contract.

Before they are 17, I think they are referred to as 1st and 2nd year scholars. Phill Thompson might know the definitions. I think he's referred to the agreements as 'scholarship papers' rather than true contracts?

Michael/Dave, I'm not an expert, we'd need “ Contract Dave “ for that ;-), but Scholars sign a two year Scholarship which is guaranteed by the club, but they can be let go to other clubs in some circumstances.
Once they have turned 17 they can sign a “Pro contract which I believe if for a maximum up to 3 years. Though I'm vaguely aware of 4 year contracts, not sure if that's older youngsters though. Once they are 18 I believe they can sign a longer contract e.g. Branthwaite signed for 2 1/2 years at 17 but it was improved when he turned 18.
Pro contracts signed at 17 essentially guarantee 1 year after u18s with the U23s. I noticed we've done this with a number of youngsters we've brought in from other clubs, it's a way of attracting them at say 16 or younger by agreeing we will give them a Pro contract when they are 17 e.g of the u18s, McAllister, Leban, Christensen and Garcia all came from other clubs and got Pro contracts at 17.
Kouyate is the first of the new intake, Reece Welch and Isaac Price are 17 this month, it'll be interesting to see if they get contracts. Tom Cannon needs one too, but maybe they'll wait til he's 18.