Everton u21s 5-1 RB Leipzig: Graham becoming impossible to ignore after double

Everton u21s secured an historic quarter final spot in the PL2 International Cup after a 5-1 thrashing of German side RB Leipzig at Goodison Park.

The young Everton side have recovered from a loss against Real Madrid to beat PSV, Monaco and RB Leipzig to secure their place in the last eight of the tournament after a comprehensive victory powered by some of their most exciting youngsters.

Braiden Graham, the 18-year-old signed from Linfield in Ireland in 2024, continued his incredible development with two goals and an assist, while 17-year-old Malik Olayiwola opened the scoring as he celebrated his first professional contract with the club after just three minutes.

Both youngsters have appeared on David Moyes’ first team bench this season and Graham in particular is becoming difficult to ignore for the Everton manager. He blasted a first into the Park End top corner to open his account and followed it up with a beautifully curled finish to double his total.

Graham now has 11 goals in just 18 appearances for Everton u21s and his English pfofessional debut for Everton or on loan is looming on the horizon. The attacker is small but plays with a low centre of gravity and plays with a freedom that will draw inevitable comparisons with Wayne Rooney.

While Rooney was a once in a lifetime talent, there is a similar style of play with Graham, who operated off the left wing but drifted inside to cause havoc against the Leipzig defence. A clever backheel and run down the right wing late in the second half demonstrated his flair as he enjoyed a superb game.

Graham may suffer from not having a set position. He is quite small to be a traditional striker and will likely end up operating behind a number nine or off the wings.

For Olayiwola, whose height and physicality does not match his young age, it was another excellent performance in central midfield, where he worked hard off the ball and sprung forward with it as Everton’s most advanced midfielder.

Everton can look back on a night when not much went wrong. Roman Dixon got 45 minutes on his return from injury and could have had an assist with a cross that just evaded Graham before half time. Everton also gave starts to talented midfielder Demi Akirakiri, while Omari Benjamin returned to lead the line.

Reece Welch scored Everton’s fourth from a Graham cross, before young striker Cieran Loney, who joined from Partick Thistle in the same summer as Graham, finished the game off with a fifth goal in injury time. The 17-year-old is a traditional target man with seven goals at u18 level this season. Tonight marks his first for the u21s of the season.

There were promising cameos from tricky winger Shea Pita, another u18 player who has stepped up to u21 level this season, and for Josh van Schoor at left back, who impressed with some lung-busting attacking runs in the second half.

Everton will now await their quarter final opponent in a tournament they have never won.