Elijah Upson in an Everton shirt, outside of Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Elijah Upson in an Everton shirt.Breaking Media Limited/Manh Tung.

Meet Elijah Upson: The 100m sprint champion that Everton want to sign

Correspondent AUTHORITY Sports journalist with experience at the Northern Echo and Durham Cricket Club; Teesside University graduate. FOCUS Long-form opinion and deep-dive content across the Breaking Media network. THE INSIGHT Jacob utilises a network of club and industry contacts to deliver verified, analytical reporting. He provides in-depth opinion and insight to ensure fans get beyond the headlines and into the detail.

Published on:

10 Jul 2026, 9:46 am

Everton are interested in signing Elijah Upson after the youngster's recent departure from Tottenham Hotspur.

The Toffees have had a busy start to the window and have already made three signings.

Merlin Rohl, Tyrique George and Hayden Hackney have all joined the club permanently, though more additions are wanted.

David Moyes has often been criticised for his lack of faith in young talent, though the Blues' academy is central to their long-term plans.

Finch Farm has seen plenty of talented players come and go, and more exits could happen this summer.

However, Everton want to add another youngster to their ranks, as Upson becomes the latest player linked to Hill Dickinson.

Everton join race for Matthew Upson's son

According to Simon Jones, this Friday, reporter for the Daily Mail, Everton are among the several clubs that are interested in signing Upson.

The 18-year-old has recently left Tottenham and is weighing up his options, as the Toffees sit with the likes of Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Monaco and other European sides who want the defender.

Upson reportedly visited Arsenal's training ground recently, and will continue to assess his options after leaving Spurs.

Defender Elijah Upson - son of Matthew - has visited Arsenal's training ground as he considers his next move after leaving Spurs. The 18-year-old has plenty of suitors with Manchester City, Chelsea, Everton, Bayern, Dortmund, Leipzig and Monaco all registering their interest.
— Simon Jones (@SimonJones_DM) July 10, 2026

The youngster is the son of former England international, Mathew Upson, and if he turns out anything like his dad, Everton could be on to a winner.

Upson featured for Tottenham's U18s, U19s and U21s last season, and felt like this summer was the time for change after being with the club since the age of seven.

His background may be particularly interesting to Everton fans.

Everton transfer priority clear as new players at Finch Farm today

Upson's pace could transform Everton's future defence; here's why

Everton's defence became a controversial talking point towards the end of last season, especially with regard to James Tarkowski and Michael Keane.

Upson is a natural centre-back, and as the Metro have reported, he is a former 100-metre national sprint champion, with his mother, Ellie Darby, a former runner

That said, if the Toffees do sign him, he could one day add an important trait that Moyes has missed at the back for a while.

While it's not known how far ahead Everton are in the chase for the centre-back, it would be a smart move for the Blues to make.

It's possible that Everton would owe Tottenham a small compensation fee despite Upson having already left the Lilywhites, but it could be a tiny investment that pays off tenfold in the future.

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club