Everton starlet Matthew Apter pens first professional deal at Goodison Park
Matthew Apter has signed his first professional contract at Everton having been a star for the club’s Under-18s side this season.
The 17-year-old is already capped at international level for Scotland’s Under-16s but has really kicked on at Finch Farm under Paul Tait and Leighton Baines.
The midfielder has started all six of the Toffees’ Premier League Under-18 games so far this season, playing the full game in five of those matches.
The deal will see him remain at Everton until the summer of 2025 by when he hopes to have made the progression to the Under-21s and possibly the senior setup.
“It’s a dream of mine to play at Goodison Park, so it would be incredibly special to make that a reality,” Apter said to the club’s website.
“At the moment, though, I’m looking to add more goals to my game this season and help this club to success at youth level. My longer-term goal is to move up to the Under-21s and then hopefully, one day, a debut for the First Team.”
Investment
It’s no internal secret that the football clubs who put the most effort into their youth setup and the players within it get the most out of it at the same time.
Everton have to make more of the stunning facilities they have at Finch Farm and there are already signs of that happening with Frank Lampard keen to get the best out of what is already in-house.
Apter could be one of several teenagers currently playing for the club’s youth sides that makes the jump up to senior football at Goodison Park one day but only if they are properly invested in.
If they get that attention and care that they need at such a tender age then they will eventually pay the club back with top performances in big matches and maybe even a whopping price tag.
It is still far too soon to suggest Apter will certainly do that but he is on the right path towards it for now.