Michael Kenrick 17/06/2026 17comments  |  Jump to last

(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

One of Everton's star young teen prodigies has 'deregistered' himself from the Academy and appears set to make the switch to Liverpool.

Everton's 14-year-old attacking midfielder and winger, Josh Chigwada, has been with Everton Academy since... and is considered one of Finch Farm's most highly-rated prospects. He stepped up to the U18s for a single sub appearance at the end of last season — a rare feat for someone his age. He is also an England U15 international.  

At the age of 14 years, 8 months, and 1 day, he made his U18s debut against Sunderland and that makes him the second-youngest debutant in the team's history after Francis Broggan. But it does not seem to have been enough to convince him that there is a reasonable pathway for such a prodigious talent to make fast enough progress through the ranks at Everton.

This week, the news has broken that he has 'deregistered' from Everton to become a free agent, with every indication that he could be snapped up by Liverpool's academy. Wherever he goes, his new club will be required to pay a modest development fee to cover his time with The Toffees, but this will count as nothing against the terrible record Everton's Academy has for losing young players to the competition. 

 

Reader Comments (17)

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Paul Kossoff
1 Posted 17/06/2026 at 23:50:13
Turncoat you are, son. Ask your dad what that means.

I look forward to hearing of you in the non-leagues.
Steve Brown
2 Posted 18/06/2026 at 01:04:14
Embarrassing.
Derek Thomas
3 Posted 18/06/2026 at 01:20:50
Moyes Out!
Paul Griffiths
4 Posted 18/06/2026 at 03:11:47
I can't blame him. He probably has Rio Ngumoha in mind.
Jim Bennings
5 Posted 18/06/2026 at 05:22:19
Nothing changes at our club, so that's why, at least while the World Cup is on, I've happily switched off all things Everton.

As I said at the end of last season, it will purely be status quo again next campaign; people at Everton are clearly happy to deem failure as moderate success.
Paul Griffiths
6 Posted 18/06/2026 at 06:10:45
'So that's why, at least while the World Cup is on, I've happily switched off all things Everton'.

No you haven't, Jim Porkie.
Alan J Thompson
7 Posted 18/06/2026 at 06:44:16
At age 14 I would tend to think that this is probably somebody else's decision so cut the lad a little slack and then ask what made somebody else decide prospects look better elsewhere.

And has anything been heard from the whatsisname who was brought in from Man Utd, was it, to reorganise the Academy, or is he talent-spotting youngsters at the World Cup?
Peter Gorman
8 Posted 18/06/2026 at 07:00:00
The story is not the kid but Liverpool, who are aggressively pursuing the top talent, just as Man City have before them.

Our club needs a vision, any will do.
Ian Bennett
9 Posted 18/06/2026 at 07:31:56
Source: Facebook

https://share.google/0k0V1INiB6Cr9XIhL

Watch what Matt Jackson at Wolves says about it.
Derek Thomas
10 Posted 18/06/2026 at 07:40:41
Peter @8; wasn't that one of Kenwright's theme songs -- 'Any dream will do'

Jim @ 5; don't you mean -- moderate success is not failure.
Moderate success being 13th of course.

The most accurate and natural ways to express this in Latin depend on the tone you want to convey: For the "Golden Mean" approach.

Aurea mediocritas non est defectio.Translation: "Golden moderation [moderate success] is not a failure/falling short."

Context: This adapts the famous philosophical concept of the "golden mean" coined by the poet Horace, which values a virtuous middle ground over extremes.

A more direct translation is - Modicus successus non est clades.

Translation: "A moderate success is not a defeat/disaster."

For a classic Stoic motto regarding perseverance: Successus non finis, defectio non exitium.

This seems more like the new motto our Texican Overloards should maybe think of adopting.

Translation: "Success is not the end, falling short is not destruction."
Dave Abrahams
11 Posted 18/06/2026 at 10:40:11
Being honest, in most cases, young players leaving Everton to go elsewhere have been offered attractive terms to stay but have decided to move to other clubs for other reasons — more money, offered first team chances... who knows?

This young lad Chigwada would have been offered a very good deal when his time came to sign a professional contract— he can't sign one until he's 17.

When or if Everton improves all round as a club, they might be more attractive for youngsters and their agents/ parents to come and stay here.
Paul Hewitt
12 Posted 18/06/2026 at 12:16:11
Paul @1. The lads 14 FFS. Calling him a turncoat is a bit silly and unnecessary.
David West
13 Posted 18/06/2026 at 12:26:05
Oh come on!! He's 14!!! Could be a red! Might be news in a few years if he makes it!

This is half the problem with youth development, too much structure, not enough fun and enjoyment of the game at this age.

He should be playing on a patch of gravel with broken glass on and dog shit to dodge, against kids younger and older, bigger and smaller, getting kicked about -- not worrying about deregistering from academies and compensation fees at 14.
Jack Convery
14 Posted 18/06/2026 at 14:06:18
Will the last kid out, turn off the lights, Ta.
Bob Parrington
15 Posted 18/06/2026 at 00:57:31
Likely his Dad's persuasion!!!!
Mark Murphy
16 Posted 19/06/2026 at 06:12:57
Or Francis Boggan as he’s actually named, Michael…
James Flynn
17 Posted 19/06/2026 at 22:35:54
Meh, we just "raided" Dundee for 16-year old Hutchinson.

They come and they go.

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