Over the past decade, an abundance of household names has passed through the Everton academy system, including Erling Haaland and Joshua Zirkzee, yet few have left a meaningful impact on the Blues.

Whilst the profitable sale of Anthony Gordon was positive, and Tom Davies’s efforts both on and off the pitch were commendable, it still feels as though not enough youngsters get their opportunity to excel and make a name for themselves at Everton. However, a handful of talents could get their chance to alter the context this season.

Energetic and eager to emerge, Harrison Armstrong is undoubtedly one of Everton’s most encouraging prospects. The defensive-minded midfielder impressed in tiny glimpses for the Blues last season, before raising eyebrows during a short but impactful spell at Derby County.

In a game overshadowed by Dyche’s departure just hours before kick-offand the Ashley and Tyler Young father-versus-son scenario, Armstrong was a stand-out in a 2-0 FA Cup win over Peterborough. The midfielder threaded a precise pass through to Guinea-Bissau international Beto, for the striker to finish smartly, whilst also consistently providing Everton with creativity and energy.

At just 18, Armstrong still has a great deal of time to tweak his game and develop physically. Nevertheless, the England under-18 international could immediately slot into Everton’s midfield if he impresses during Everton’s physically demanding pre-season schedule.

Whilst former manager, Sean Dyche, evidently showed little interest in Everton’s academy, he did hand 20-year-old Roman Dixon a difficult debut away to Spurs, which with a positive mindset, gave him invaluable experience. Whilst the remaining members of the ageing squad were appalling, Dixon provided a valiant display during the 4-0 thrashing.

The right-back who, in a utopian world, would solve Everton’s notorious problems with the position, is known for his slaloming forays forward and defensive awareness. With little first-team experience, Dixon will likely be loaned out, with Stockport County interested in the Englishman. He’s one to keep an eye out for, though.

Furthermore, Martin Sherif has been a popular talking point for Blues for a few years now, yet the former Netherlands youth international is still only 19 years of age. The 6”3 striker has been a prolific goal scorer for the Blues at academy level and will surely get an opportunity to display his talent in front of goal at senior level.

Both Armstrong and Sherif have taken part in an industrious pre-season training camp in Scotland and will be hoping to feature in tomorrow’s friendly away to Accrington Stanley. Alongside the pair, both Braiden Graham and Jenson Metcalfe have laboured during the camp, and may also find first-team football at a relatively high level.

In conclusion, if Everton want to shift their focus to the future, they are obliged to utilise the academy. Last season, the outdated Dyche selected two starting line-ups with an average age of 30.1 years, the highest in the Premier League.

Whilst the crucial experience of Idrissa Gana Gueye (35) cannot be overstated, it would be refreshing to see David Moyes start Harrison Armstrong (18) more frequently as a holding midfielder during the upcoming season. In the same way, both Roman Dixon and Martin Sherif could certainly breakthrough into Everton’s first team, ahead of alternatives, even if that is just for a short period of time.

On the other hand, the low-stakes clash with Accrington Stanley tomorrow night should provide a logical insight into the ability of a few members of Everton's academy.

On the other hand, the low-stakes clash with Accrington Stanley tomorrow night should provide a logical insight into the ability of a few members of Everton's academy.

 

Reader Comments (16)

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Mike Gaynes
1 Posted 14/07/2025 at 17:41:09
Billy, why would you expect any of the players you mention to break through to the first team this season? Who besides Armstrong has shown that level of talent? According to the TW folks who regularly watch the youth teams (Brent, Dave, Ian, others), the answer is zero. Certainly not Dixon. Certainly not Sherif since we just bought a striker.

Does a 15-game loan at Derby really make young Armstrong ready to supplant Gana, Garner and Iroegbunam? If not, wouldn't a full season loan serve him, and us, better than having him sit on our bench behind those three and whoever we buy (Luiz, Ndidi)?

Personally, I would have expected only Harry Tyrer at 23 (whom you don't mention) to be ready to step up to the first team, but with the reported signing of Travers it would seem likely that Tyrer is on deck for another season-long loan.

Ryan Holroyd
2 Posted 14/07/2025 at 18:03:46
The only players in this article who have a chance of making pl are Harrison Armstrong and Braiden Graham.

Rest are division one standard

Danny O'Neill
3 Posted 14/07/2025 at 18:08:16
I'd like to keep hold of Armstrong in the first team squad as backup.

I also still have hopes for Dixon, but I had lingering hopes for Jonjoe Kenny into his 20s.

From the limited footage of the Scotland training camp, I didn't think Braiden Graham looked out of place, but it's training session, so hard to judge. He looked lively at the last test event, but probably a bit too soon for him.

Not so sure of the rest just yet.

Mike Gaynes
4 Posted 14/07/2025 at 18:13:22
Danny, Jonjoe has a new home in Greece after a couple of seasons at Hertha Berlin. He just signed with PAOK on a free.

Always wish him the best. All-heart player.

Danny O'Neill
5 Posted 14/07/2025 at 18:28:26
Yes Mike, a very honest player. Local as well, which we always like to see.

He may not have made it at Everton, but representing Schalke (loan) and Hertha in the Bundesliga as well as Celtic (loan). And now PAOK.

I'm pleased he's made a career out of football and wasn't afraid to go to the continent to do so.

Tommy Carter
6 Posted 14/07/2025 at 18:40:25
@3 Danny.

I had many a disagreement with a few on here about Jonjoe Kenny.

I mainly pointed to him and Pennington etc as being kept at the club for far too long.

I’m glad to see that we have become a bit more ruthless in dealing around academy products.

LFC have been lightyears ahead of everyone for years in developing talent and selling it on to other clubs. Not all talent has to be developed for the first team of Everton and I could tell quite early on with Kenny that he would never be capable of being a successful premier league and international standard right back, which is what we need for our first team.

He seems like a decent guy, a good professional and a decent enough player so I am always surprised when people take my evaluation of him as a player for Everton so personally. He was never going to be good enough for us and his career has been on a downward curve since leaving. Suffering relegation and now signed up to play for PAOK. He’ll be a millionaire and he’s made for life and well done to him for that. He deserves that.

Robert Tressell
7 Posted 14/07/2025 at 18:42:21
Sherif is miles behind the likes of Anichebe and Simms at the same age. He will have no expectation of making it at Everton. Like most players retained for u21 football he will now be trying to see if he can secure a contract with a third or fourth tier club.

Another article which massively overestimates the standard of u21 football

Paul Kernot
8 Posted 15/07/2025 at 03:34:16
No punches pulled there Robert. You are however one of the more knowledgeable on the subject so fair comment, at least from you that is.
Paul Kossoff
9 Posted 15/07/2025 at 15:46:33
None! They are all way below premier League quality. The so called academy is not fit for purpose, the under 23's are a tax dodge, something to put players in recovering from injuries. This is why we have to buy or loan from other teams, they aren't good enough. Most of the first team are not good enough, so what chance have we of a reserve getting into the first team. Drawl out the old, oh he's good enough now, put him in the first team, not going to happen any time soon.
For the foreseeable future we will be a club of loans, cast offs and last pay day signings. Every team has to buy in new players, but we can't afford class, so we tread water with make does. Everton youngsters, as this article calls them, are no more than squad fillers and bench warmers. Yes, I am in a bad mod today, I can't get my grocery order from Tesco's, really annoying, I could just SCREAM!!!!😕😬😡
Michael Kenrick
10 Posted 16/07/2025 at 14:03:42
I thought we saw some pretty good performances from the useless Academy players last night, Paul.

Issac Heath, Harrison Armstrong, Justin Clarke… be nice to see just one given a chance to strut his stuff on the big stage. But highly unlikely to happen, unfortunately.

Danny O'Neill
11 Posted 16/07/2025 at 14:07:26
As I said on the match thread Michael, there were some good performances from the academy players last night.

Armstrong stood out and I think he has the best chance of being involved.

Mike Allison
12 Posted 19/07/2025 at 10:00:42
Armstrong aside, any of those lads doing a job in League One works be a huge result this season.

Armstrong is an attacking 8 or a pressing 10, not a holding midfielder (in senior football anyway). He should be in the first team squad and given minutes. I'd be surprised if we signed the three attacking players we still need anyway.

Mike Allison
13 Posted 19/07/2025 at 10:04:12
Also, academy-wise we'd be looking for Welch and Campbell to develop ahead of those mentioned. I can only assume Onyango is considered to have not made it by now. He's 22 and if he's not being used now, I don't see that he ever will.

I still think they're good enough to use them a little bit in order to generate transfer interest, especially in pre-season.

Got to agree with Michael, I'd love to see Heath given the chance to surprise people a bit this season, especially if we fail to achieve our needs in the transfer market – make a virtue of a necessity.

Ryan Holroyd
14 Posted 19/07/2025 at 10:51:05
Welch won't be a Premier League player. League One or Two for him.

Don't know much about Campbell but I think his loans have been Scotland?

Robert Tressell
15 Posted 19/07/2025 at 11:57:06
If these players were not already on our books - would you want us to sign them for the first team squad?

- a left winger age 20 with 2 goals and 6 assists in 35 games in u21s football, no England recognition at any level, no loan and no debut even for a cup game.

- a CB age 21 with some England youth recognition but not for nearly 4 years - who managed 2 appearances in the Belgian 2nd division while on loan last season.

- a CB age 20 with some England u20 recognition last October and 24 league games for Ross County in their relegation season from the Scottish Premier League


Phil (Kelsall) Roberts
16 Posted 20/07/2025 at 14:50:26
Exactly Robert.

In the last 25 years (players whose 1st appearance was after 1999-2000 season) and who were in the academy from a young age rather than bought in their teens.

Made it (regular Everton or sold for big money):– Hibbert, Barkley, Rooney, Gordon, Osman, Rodwell, Davies, Anichebe, Jeffers.

Didn't make it - Kenny, Vaughan, Chadwick, Cadamateri, Clarke, Browning, Forshaw, Broadhead, Duffy, Baxter, Pennington, McAlney, Cannon, Dowell, Baningime, Dobbin, Onyango, Price.

And of the last four on the first list, I think the only one we would sign now would be the Jeffers before he went to Arsenal. So 5 players in 25 years. I wonder how that compares with the other 5 clubs who have been ever present in the Premier League over those years?

It would be interesting to know what proportion of Premier League players are British, European, African, South American, Asia and North American and should that be a guide to our recruitment.

I also suspect that while the saying is it is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration, then to make it as a footballer, it is 10% skill and 90% determination.


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