Everton’s u18 side beat Brighton 3-0 in a friendly as the sides met in a behind closed doors game in Spain.
The young Toffees were 3-0 ahead at half time and went on to win the game at the Pinatar Arena and it seems Everton fielded a strong team. Braiden Graham, who has already established himself as an u21 prospect at the club, scored for Everton alongside Scottish striker Cieran Loney and left back Josh van Schoor, who recently signed his first pro deal with the club.
Everton also featured Francis Gomez, who earned his first full international cap for Gambia last month, alongside youngster Demi Akirakiri in central midfield. The young Everton side were without Aled Thomas, who has travelled with the first team to the USA.
Everton’s u18s will play Villareal C on Saturday (update: Everton lost 3-2 with Beaumont-Clark and Sherif on the scoresheet) in the second game in Spain.
Elsewhere a young Everton u17s side are competing in a tournament in Bermuda and ran out comfortable 6-0 winners against a Bermuda u15s side in the Triangle Cup. Jon Nsangou, who is just 15, scored twice after a season in which he broke into u18 football with an impressive goal record. Nsangou, who also scored a hat trick in an England u16 friendly last season, is one of the top prospects in the Everton academy.
Jake Doughty, who also scored in that England friendly, also got on the scoresheet. Ray Roberts, Everton’s first scorer at Bramley Moore Stadium in the first test event, scored twice to continue his good form at youth level for the Toffees.
Malik Olayiwola, who caught the eye for the u18s towards the end of the season with some superb performances as an attacking midfielder and on the wing, scored a goal in the 6-0 win. The 16-year-old was named as one of Everton’s most recent scholars and is widely regarded as another top talent in his age group.