The new u21 season is set to begin when Everton take on Solhull Moors in the National Cup on Tuesday 12 August.
Everton’s young side had had a major revamp for 2025 with several older players set to leave the club and an influx of talented youngsters joining the squad for the new season.
Roman Dixon likely to head out on loan, while Luke Butterfield, Charlie Whittaker, Jack Tierney, Jack Butler, Owen Barker, Jensen Metcalfe and Matthew Apter have all left the club since January.
It means promotions for defenders Aled Thomas and Luca Davies, midfielders Jack Patterson and Harvey Foster, and attackers Joel Catesby and George Morgan.
The squad is further boosted by the return of Eli Campbell, Bradley Moonan and Francis Okoronkwo from loans.
Everton’s playoff finish in the Premier League 2 last year means the club will also face European giants including Real Madrid in European competition. It is good news for quite a large squad that often faces limited fixtures and there are plenty of talents to watch out for.
The team begins its Premier League season against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday 16 August at 11am.
Here is our lowdown on the u21 squad:
Goalkeepers
Everton have plenty of choice at u21 level when it comes to goalkeepers. Harry Tyrer is arguably too good for PL2 football having spent a year on loan at Blackpool. Steve Bruce said the club failed in a bid to secure him this year but another loan is probable.
Fraser Barnsley, a Northern Ireland u21 international, will compete with talented youngsters George Pickford and Douglass Ljukjanciks for the number one spot. Ljukjanciks is the most highly rated because of his ability on the ball and giving him minutes will be important.
Defenders
There is plenty of change at the back for the u21s. A number of players departed the club including left back Jack Butler and centre half Jack Tierney.
Joshua van Schoor is the only true left back at u21 level. He impressed in an attacking full back role in the first test event at Bramley Moore and has secured his first pro contract with the club.
Eli Campbell is back from a loan at Ross County. Another loan would be useful for the pacey left back who can also play centre half. If not he will be one of the senior players having made his England u20 ‘Elite’ side debut.
Aled Thomas, another to sign a first professional contract, can play left back and the technically gifted centre half was the stand out academy player last season in defence, effortlessly stepping up to u21 level with some impressive performances. He also takes a good corner.
Will Tamen will be hoping for an injury-free season after arriving from Burton last summer. He will be one of the senior defenders alongside the veteran Reece Welch, who at 21 is in the final year of his Everton stint. He is off the back of awful loans decisions at Forest Green and Belgian side Deinze and it feels his Everton career is coming to an end.
Bradley Moonan, back from loan from Prescot Cables, and Odin Samuel-Smith will get plenty of time at u21 level this season, while George Finney at right back has advanced quickly through the ranks. He looks interesting as a tall, strong, attacking full back option. Luca Davies, another Welsh youngster, will probably play for both the u21s and u18s this year.
Roman Dixon is expected to go on loan to Stockport County, while Tyler Onyango will join the League One side on a permanent deal.
Midfielders
The departure of Luke Butterfield means it will be a young midfield this season. Combative Northern Irish youth international Jack Patterson looks promising after signing his first contract, while Gambian international Francis Gomez has shown remarkable improvements since arriving back from a loan at Lyon in January. He will be the one to watch in the midfield positions.
Callum Bates has already appeared on the first team bench and he will be a main threat from an attacking midfield perspective. Either side of him we’ll see Isaac Heath, who has been involved in first team football and was the academy player of the season last year, get a chance to impress David Moyes.
Harvey Foster, a defensive midfielder who scored seven goals from deep midfield for the u18s last year, is one to watch as he makes the step up to u21 level. He has secured a professional contract with the club this year.
Jacob Beaumont-Clark is a technically gifted winger with an eye for goal and it will be a key development season for him after a solid start to his u21 career last season.
Kingsford Boakye, who signed from AC Milan, missed much of last season through injury but did score Everton’s first ever winner at Hill Dickinson Stadium when he scored in the second test event. He also scored in a 4-1 defeat against a PFA XI last weekend and he will want consistent, injury-free minutes.
Coby Ebere, another who has suffered injuries, is the quickest player in the academy and broke records for the 60m sprint at u18 level. He has all the attributes to be a top player but 2025/26 will need an improvement in final third decision making for the left winger.
Francis Okoronkwo was a relatively expensive signing from Sunderland a few years ago and a loan at Salford gave him a taste of first team football. He will need some consistent minutes and to define his role after appearing on the left of a front three and as a lone striker at youth level.
Keep an eye out for Joel Catesby too, a goalscoring winger who has stepped up from u18 level last season.
Justin Clarke at just 16 should be in our u18 preview but given the young winger has already appeared for the first team during pre season we’ll include him here. Direct and skilful, Clarke has an eye for goal. He scored 20 in the first half of a youth season at Wimbledon and started his Everton career with ten in 16 at u18 level.
Forwards
Martin Sherif is the main striker at u21 level and he made the transition to u21 football seamlessly. He has all the physical attributes to be a Premier League striker. Strong and quick, he has also shown an eye for goal with 21 in 48 u18 appearances and five u21 goals last season. A loan could be on the cards.
His competition comes from Omari Benjamin, a flexible forward with tricky feet and a knack for important goals. He scored twice in a Derby victory over Liverpool and was the club’s u21 top scorer last season. The former Arsenal man can play anywhere across the front three and will be hoping for a loan or first team experience this year.
George Morgan, a tall and quick striker and Welsh youth international, stepped up to u21 level and looked promising last season. However, all eyes will be on Braiden Graham, the Northern Irish wonderkid who looks like he could be a star. He will get plenty of chances to showcase his talents up front and as a second striker in the upcoming season.