Eli Campbell signs 3-year professional deal

Great prospect. Congratulations Eli.

In another couple of years he can look forward to going out on loan.

Okay, you youth team watchers (Andrew, Dave, Phill et al)... tell me about this player!

Always happy to see lads coming through, especially those who have been playing above their age group.

We've had a few false dawns at full-back recently and maybe this lad has what it takes.

One thing for certain is that we will have to look to develop talent as much as possible as we aren't competing in the same transfer pool as the big boys at the moment.

Michael,

I don't want to sound pedantic but he was 17 last August. I say that because I suspect he was offered a contract then, maybe it was 3 years, but because they go to the end of June, 3 years then would have ended in June 2024. I'm thinking he declined until now, got his 3 years and it's now until 2025.

He's certainly been the exception in that all his peers accepted a pro contract not long after their 17th birthday, apart from Matt Mallon who was only offered one recently.

It's just me surmising, no proof, but these days our really talented youngsters get a guarantee that they'll be offered a pro contract when they sign up for a Scholarship at 16.

Interesting, Phill. Maybe he wasn't guaranteed a pro-contract, but has now started developing? I say that because August until June is 10 months, and that's a long time to stay as a scholar when you could be getting a much better wage as a professional?

Mike, Campbell played most of his games for the U23s at left-back / wing-back last season. He's not as tall as Welch, but is more powerfully built.

He looked surprisingly good as a wing-back, showed a lot of skill, but doesn't have the outright pace to become one though.

I think he'll continue growing/ bulk up and will be a centre-back or full back. He's ticking all the boxes so far: playing up an age group, played for England youth, has the physical size to make it.

If Branthwaite goes on loan, then Campbell would likely step up to more first team squad training. He's got a wee bit to go though to make a match day squad, but that's what we've got coaches for, to develop our youngsters.

Tony #6, indeed, and I'll admit my “surmising” does seem odd given the flaw that someone would ignore a pro contract. Just my thoughts. It's been a surprise that it's taken so long for him to sign a contract given how well he established himself before his 17th birthday.

Fair enough, Phill, I didn't realize he was already beginning to establish himself, so the chances are he was possibly just keeping his options open?

I suppose it's just the way things are now because you don't even have to reach your full potential to get rich out of football nowadays.

You're right, Phill. Sorry, I was wrong about his 17th birthday being recent. That strengthens your point as he could have been given this contract any time last season... but wasn't.

Maybe English clubs are trying to keep a tight hold on their young players because of Brexit.

It seems they can't sign young foreign players under 18 anymore... don't know if it applies to foreign clubs signing our players, I imagine it does.

I know I'm slow - but can someone explain to me just how many teams the Club have now and what order are they in? For instance, do we have a Reserve side any more? I'm so confused,

Bernie (12),

Starting from next season, Everton will have three main teams: The first team, The Under-21s (instead of the Under-23s), and The Under-18s who compete in The FA Youth Cup as well as in their own league.

I think they also have an Under-16s team and younger teams at various younger ages through the Academy.

A bit different from us watching years ago: The first team, The Reserves then A, B and C teams.

Phill (8) - Feels like something specific must have been going on behind the scenes. Maybe a contract was offered when Campbell turned 17, and his preference was to sit on it and hope that a good season might prompt an improvement in the terms on offer. That is pure speculation on my part, but regardless of the sequence of events I am delighted that he has committed to the club for 3 years.

Mike (3) - I like what I have seen thus far, but it is still very early days. Composed in possession, relatively quick (he has a slightly rangy running style that reminds me of the Belgian Moussa Dembele), good positionally (particularly in terms of being aware of runners in behind) and not afraid of the physical side of the game. He strikes me as someone who is focused, hard-working and versatile, and Might just have the right temperament to step up to first team training straight away.

Put it this way, losing Thierry Small was a blow, but Elijah Campbell and Ishe Samuels-Smith do soften that blow considerably. From what I have seen of Samuels-Smith - and this is premature and probably reckless - I reckon he has a decent chance of becoming a permanent member of the first team squad before he turns 18. He's a natural.

Tony, we're going back to the season before last when by the end of that season Welch and Campbell (then 16) established themselves as the U18 centre-backs ahead of the likes of Kristensen and Hagan who were older and had been given contracts. Only just over a year ago in reality, Campbell was still 16 approaching 17.

I believe both Kristensen and Hagan were let go this month.

Andrew, I agree completely about Ishe Samuels -Smith. I watched him playing centre back for England u16s last season and also saw Welch playing for England at that age when he was in the same team as Onyango and Dobbin. By comparison Samuels-Smith was better than Welch. For me he's the best young defender we've had for many years.

There are however rumours that he wasn't going to sign a Scholarship form with us. He's the one I'll be looking out for when we release the names of the new Scholars, along with Emilio Lawrence, another who's been mentioned as not signing a Scholarship.

If he's here, I too can see us fast tracking him into our first team squad, and avoid a Thierry Small type situation occurring this time next year as he approaches 17.

Andrew (14) Andrew I think Samuels Smith has a very good chance of becoming an outstanding player for the Blues, I think he has far greater potential than Thierry Small who much better going forward than he was defending, in fact I thought was poor defensively.

I'd be surprised if this lad makes a PL start, he may get a couple of cup games. He should have gone to a lower club then worked his way back up.

Dave (17) - Couldn't agree more.

Phill (16) - I guess it is always a bit touch and go when it comes to securing the top young prospects to professional terms, but losing Samuels-Smith would be disastrous. I'm not as aware as you are about Emilio Lawrence, but I hope to catch more of him this season (hopefully in the blue of Everton!)

Phill, Andrew and Dave, thanks all for your insight.

Next time I'm over, maybe we can attend a U-21 or U-18 game together.

Good news indeed, regardless of how advanced Eli is as a footballer.

Trust Thelwell has established a Pay Structure for those who have yet debuted for First Team, and Eli should be on decent wages that are affordable by Football League Clubs when he is loaned out eventually.

It is up to Tait now to coach him at U21 properly and as stipulated by the philosophies ("policies" might be a more appropirate word) set forth by Thelwell, Prosser & Co.

Thanks for the insights from all those who watch the youngsters on a regular basis.

One point I picked out of the introductory commentary is that he can play centre back or left back.

Is that in tune with an intent to develop as system of playing 3 at the back with players who can play as part of a 3 or fit in as left back or wing back as required?

I think Godfrey fits that bill too. A centre back, but can play as left back, right back or a more defensive wing back rather than a rampaging, attacking one that would make it more of a back 5. But he can work on the flanks as well as in the centre.

Maybe the management and coaching team are finally looking at implementing a playing strategy and system?

He's only 17. Let's hope he develops. Good luck son.

Dave @13, Thanks for that.

Still rather confusing. Does this mean older players of say 20 years can play for the U21, as they must be the Reserve Team? Why can't they call it the way it was?

My Dad played for the Club's A Team in the 1920s when he was a teenager.