Lyndon Lloyd 23/10/2024 14comments  |  Jump to last
Everton FC

Douglass Lukjanciks, Everton's highly-regarded teenage goalkeeping talent has signed his first professional deal with the Club, a three-year contract that runs until the summer of 2027.

The Latvian-born player, who was raised in nearby Southport, has been making impressive progress through the Blues' youth ranks, having joined Everton at the age of 12.

He is now a regular in Leighton Baines's Under-18s team, recently received a call-up to the England U18s and was the subject over the summer of serious interest from Manchester City.

“I feel privileged and honoured to be given this contact,” Lukjanciks says on the Club's official website. “I joined Everton as an Under-12 from a grassroots team and the Club has given me lots of opportunities to show what I can do, to learn and improve. It means a lot to me.

“I just want to keep improving, with my ultimate aim to one day become number one for Everton and England.”

Everton's Director of Football, Kevin Thelwell, expressed his pleasure at the 17-year-old committing his future to the Toffees, saying:

“Douglass is a talented young goalkeeper with a lot of potential and we are very pleased he has extended his stay here with us at Everton.

“His attributes have been recognised by England at Under-18 level and, with the excellent coaches we have within our Academy, along with the other fine keepers to learn from, we are confident Douglass will keep progressing at the Club.”

 

Reader Comments (14)

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Duncan McDine
1 Posted 23/10/2024 at 17:04:25
Obviously no one that knows him will ever read this, but congratulations to the boy anyway.

The chances of making the Everton matchday squad are quite high if you're a goalkeeper... this was how we fought off competition from the likes of City. Clever tactics, Mr Dyche.

With that in mind, I would expect a hot young prospect in the right-back position to be signed up in the coming days.

ps: Despite it being commonplace for years, I still can't get used to seeing keepers in short sleeves.

Dale Self
2 Posted 23/10/2024 at 17:08:55
We have a spot warm on the bench for you. Welcome Douglass!
Danny O'Neill
3 Posted 23/10/2024 at 17:18:09
Good luck to the lad.

Let's hope he makes a career. If not with Everton, then in professional football.

I can see the club sending him out on loan.

Robert Tressell
4 Posted 23/10/2024 at 19:27:42
I was surprised and impressed that we kept hold of him this summer after the recent departures of Lawrence, Lienou and Samuels-Smith.

Not seen him play yet but obviously highly regarded by international coaches and other top clubs.

Joe McMahon
5 Posted 23/10/2024 at 19:35:52
If only we could stockpile strikers like we do goalkeepers.

Good luck to him though, and yes he will be loaned out I assume.

Mike Hayes
6 Posted 23/10/2024 at 22:00:40
Good luck to the lad.

There's bound to be a place on the first-team bench at some point this season.

Derek Thomas
7 Posted 23/10/2024 at 22:27:46
Tongue firmly in cheek (as we don't have an Irony /Sarcasm font) that's it then, throw him in the first team – sell Pickford.

Fair play to the lad.

Jamie Sweet
8 Posted 23/10/2024 at 23:59:14
I read that Emilio Lawrence was training with the Man City first team prior to tonight's Champions League game.

He already has 2 goals and 4 assists in six appearances for their U21s this season.

Could he be the one that got away?

Robert Tressell
9 Posted 24/10/2024 at 02:57:14
Jamie # 8,

I expect Lawrence would be in our first team squad by now - getting first team minutes, or perhaps doing a Championship loan. He is one of many outstanding youngsters in the City academy.

Like Morgan Rogers now doing so well at Villa, it wouldn't be a surprise if Lawrence never breaks through at City but does well elsewhere.

Sean O'Hanlon
10 Posted 24/10/2024 at 15:00:13
Great! We can now have 3 goalies on the bench!
Stu Darlington
11 Posted 24/10/2024 at 20:50:47
The lad's still very young yet. (What's that like?) U18 and U21 football is one thing but league football is a very different animal.

He needs to be sent out on a sensible loan as soon as the club thinks he's ready.

Si Cooper
12 Posted 02/11/2024 at 00:42:30
Been with the club since 12…. I guess one thing that goes wrong for a lot of young promising goalies is that they don’t end up being generally tall enough.
Or am I completely wrong and you can tell at 12 how tall they’ll end up being?
Eric Myles
13 Posted 02/11/2024 at 05:44:38
Si, I don't think at 12 you can.

I was big for my age at 11, 12, 13, tallest in the year, played hooker at rugby, but at 14 I stopped growing and by 16 was one of the smallest.

Genes I guess? Me Dad was tall but me Mum short and I came out in between. My sisters grew like me Dad and are taller than me.

Si Cooper
14 Posted 02/11/2024 at 14:51:30
Eric, I was similar. Although not quite in the tallest in the year bracket at 12, I was still big enough to be hooker and started off in some basic training for the power field athletics. Our kid got all the height in our family, the greedy bastard, but he was one of the tallest in his year all through.

I was musing if there was some way of predicting but I guess there is generally a lottery element to it. Remember some great goalies in junior football. Must be horrible if your dreams just peter out when your growth spurt never materialises.

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