Everton unveil Francis Okoronkwo at Finch Farm after potential £1m signing
Everton have officially presented new signing Francis Okoronkwo at Finch Farm, according to The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland.
Writing via his personal Twitter profile on Monday afternoon [20/09/21], Boyland attached a photo of the 17-year-old signing from Sunderland at the training ground.
“Everton have officially unveiled new signing Francis Okoronwko who has joined from Sunderland,” he said. “Highly-rated teenage forward will join academy ranks.”
One for the future
Okoronkwo is clearly someone that has been earmarked for a future first-team berth rather than any immediate role under Rafa Benitez.
He is set to join the academy ranks, which likely means the teenager will initially be appearing for the Under-18.
However, he could soon rise through the ranks and link up with David Unsworth’s Under-23s – Okoronkwo showed just how deadly he was at Under-18 level last season, scoring and registering an assist in a 4-3 Sunderland win over the young Blues.
His efforts in the Under-18 Premier League have seen the Blues swoop for his services in a deal that could reach £1million [Craig Hope, Daily Mail].
He will face plenty of competition at youth level from other highly-rated attackers such as Ellis Simms and Lewis Dobbins, but both are older and shouldn’t block his pathway at this stage.
While it’s not a signing that is likely to set pulses racing around Merseyside, it is a statement of intent at youth level with a signing that could reach seven figures in total.
In other Everton news, Blues player reacts after Aston Villa star issues written apology.
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