Everton contract update as Braiden Graham announcement made at Goodison Park
Everton have confirmed that academy forward Bradien Graham has penned a new three-year contract at Goodison Park.
The Toffees confirmed in an official statement on Friday (8 November) that the 17-year-old has put pen to paper on a first professional contract with the Blues to extend his stay on Merseyside until the summer of 2027.
Graham, a Northern Ireland youth international, joined the Blues as an academy scholar in the summer and has so far managed to score eight goals in just seven Under-18s matches so far this season.
Everton make new contract announcement at Goodison Park
While it could still be a little while before we see Graham starting for the Toffees’ first team side at Goodison Park, the club should be applauded for moving quickly to tie up one of their most promising young talents.
There has occasionally been a lack of academy talent in Sean Dyche’s first steam squad over the last few seasons and while that isn’t expected to change immediately, the Blues seem to be taking steps to improve their pathway both on and off of the field.
Graham’s goal record speaks for itself and if he can continue to develop in the manner that he has shown in the early stages of his Everton career, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him force himself into the first team picture sooner rather than later.
Even if he doesn’t manage to make the grade at Goodison, tying down academy talent has never been more important in football.
The Blues appear to have managed to dodge a prospective PSR breach and point deduction this summer because of the sale of Lewis Dobbin to Aston Villa, which represented pure profit.
Hopefully, the same won’t need to be done to Graham by the time he has established himself at a professional level, but all in all, this feels like a sensible decision from the Toffees.
In other Everton news, one player the Toffees are interested in is set to exit during the January transfer window
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