Amari Moses has signed a first professional contract with Everton on his 17th birthday and the young midfielder comes with an intriguing back story.
Moses, a talented attacking midfielder who trained with the first team under David Moyes at the age of 16 last September, has appeared seven times for the club’s under 18s side this year under Keith Southern and is highly rated by academy staff.
On signing the contract, he said: “It feels like a really good time to be an Everton player,” he added. “I’ve just got to keep a level head and try to break into that first team one day.
“When I return back from injury, hopefully I can get back on the scoresheet, and then work my way up to the Under-21s.”
Offering a two-year contract (the maximum allowed) on the first day he can sign one is a huge vote of confidence for Moses, and a tactic Everton have employed to tie down top prospects including Harrison Armstrong, Braiden Graham and goalkeeper Douglas Lukjanciks in recent years.
Moses’ time at Everton can be traced back to 2017 when the club signed four players from Manchester u8 side Moston Tigers. The remarkable quadruple move was notable because the side was so good, nine out of ten players were snapped up by Premier League or English Football League academies.
At the time Moston Tigers were beating Premier League academy sides regularly. Everton signed up four players including Moses and fellow u18 star Malik Olayiwola, who has been the breakout star at u18 level and has starred for England u17s this season.
The other two players are no longer at the club but Alfie Healy is in Bolton’s under age sides and is continuing his career in football.
Fellow Moston Tigers teammates include Manchester United u18 midfielder Jay McEvoy and Manchester City’s Dante Headley, who has appeared with Olayiwola for England u17s.
The remarkable success rate of Moston Tigers players should be studied. Manchester City and England star Nico O’Reilly started at the club and turned down interest from Everton to join the Manchester side.
Sam Alabi is another alumni. He appeared in a Newcastle Champions League squad at the age of just 16 this season.
Amari Moses was signed by Everton under Ronald Koeman. At the time his father Phil told the Daily Mail:
“Basically, they trained with the first team in the morning and later went into Ronald Koeman’s office and signed.
“The first team did their normal session and when they had done they came across to the boys and mingled with the different age groups.
“They did little games, had a little chat and a laugh. They’re all talking about, “Oh, I was playing with Romelu Lukaku”, or “I nutmegged Phil Jagielka!”
During the interview Moses interrupted with an ‘Everton terrace chant’, according to the article. If he continues on this trajectory he may even get his own.