Everton u21s will play a blockbuster European tie against Real Madrid and the game could be staged at Goodison Park or the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The club’s u21 side finished in the Premier League 2 playoffs last season and as a result qualified for the Premier League International Cup. The tournament includes 16 qualifying Premier Leagur sides against 16 invited team from top European academies.
Everton u21s have been drawn in a group with Real Madrid, Monaco PSV and RB Leipzig, as well as Manchester City, Southampton and Wolves. However, the club will only play the international teams in the group stage and they will all be played in England.
The rules state: “The top two clubs from each group will proceed to the knockout stages and all participating PL2 clubs are to host the group-stage matches at either their main stadium or an approved alternative venue.”
It means Everton will host youth teams from Real Madrid, Monaco, PSV and RB Leipzig to its main stadium, although the club will also be allowed to choose an alternate venue if they wish.
Everton’s u21 side recently confirmed it would no longer be playing at Southport’s Haig Avenue Stadium, with rumours suggesting the club will be exploring opportunites playing at Walton Hall Park, which has just been vacated by the Everton women’s team. However, Goodison Park has also been touted as a possible home for the u21 side and it could see the high profile u21 games staged there instead.
The rules also allow for Everton to host the European sides at the Hill Dickinson Stadium if they wish. The likes of Real Madrid would certainly justify playing at Everton’s stunning new home on the banks of the River Mersey.
If Everton progress to the quarter finals, semi final and final, the matches will be played at the home team’s stadium.
The Premier League 2 International Cup was first introduced in 2014/15 when it was won by Manchester City. Porto (twice), PSV, Bayern and Crystal Palace and most recently Nottingham Forest have all won the trophy, which took a two-year hiatus during COVID lockdown.
Everton u21s will play the tournament alongside their Premier League 2 fixtures. It will offer the chance for Everton’s talented squad to pit themselves against the best youth sides in Europe and fill the gap in fixtures that u21 often suffer from in a short PL2 season.
The likes of Braiden Graham, Martin Sherif, Isaac Heath and Francis Gomez will be important players in the their International Cup journey.
Previously the tournament has featured some breakthrough prospects including Everton’s own Lewis Dobbin, Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United) and Alfie Gilchrist (Chelsea).
