Final batch of Everton Under-21s new contracts announced

New professional George Finney keeping tabs on a Liverpool player | Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

The procession of new contracts has been relentless for Paul Tait’s squad. Friday saw 18 year old George Finney get announced as having signed his first professional terms which will see him remain as a Blue until June 2027.

He featured in 21 Under 18 games and 3 at Under 21 level last season and he will be hoping to cement the right back berth for the U21s assuming Roman Dixon moves out on loan or permanently.

He’s pretty tall for a right back, has a long stride and good engine, loving to get forward

to help the attack.

Finney’s announcement was quickly followed up on Saturday with that of his fellow full back from the opposite flank, 18 year old Josh van Schoor (pictured below).

I have very much liked what I have seen of the young left back who could qualify to play internationally for both England and South Africa. A little like Finney, he has a good “gallop” on him, gets forward as often as he can and to good effect, yet recognises he’s first and foremost a defender. He’s quite tall and has covered centre back too. I think if he develops his output on the ball he actually stands a real chance of becoming our first home-grown left back since Michael Ball, 28 years ago. I’m not counting Thierry Small’s 2 minutes played!

Van Schoor featured in a total of 26 times for the U18s and 6 times for the U21s last season. With the departure of a few U21 players, he will be looking to establish himself in Paul Tait’s team this season. Long way to go for him but he seems to have the tools to become a modern-day full back.

To maintain the almost daily momentum of announcements, it was announced on Monday that 19 year old Callum Bates (pictured below) had also signed a 2 year contract upon the expiry of his previous agreement.

Bates is an interesting player. He is naturally a central midfield playmaker, quite different to others in his peer group, technically gifted and retains the ball cleverly. He is also clearly highly thought of by the first team coaching staff as he has been part of the first team training squads in recent months and was on the first team bench twice last season (under Sean Dyche). He made 24 appearances in total for the Under 21s scoring 1 goal.

He actually turns 20 in September and it is quite possible that he will be loaned out to see if he can cope with the physicality of the Football League games. Anyone that has seen him will have witnessed that he certainly has ability. The next step may be away from the Blues, like a very similar young player, Jenson Metcalfe, He did well at Chesterfield last year.

The only other Under 21 player to have recently been offered new professional terms is Fraser Barnsley (goalkeeper) and, at the time of writing, there has been no new announcement. With Everton having signed Mark Travers, seeing Harry Tyrer as the preferred 3rd choice ‘keeper, plus the emergence of two younger goalkeepers, George Pickford and Doug Lukjanciks, it could be that the 20 year old has re-assessed his options. That would be in spite of making the first team bench against Accrington Stanley.

Good luck to them all.

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