Everton’s 18-year-old Welsh striker George Morgan has scored his first ever Everton u21 goal in a 4-3 defeat to Norwich City.
The goal is the latest milestone for a striker who has risen through the ranks at Everton and could have a bright future ahead of him at the club.
Morgan, who was born in Milton Keynes but chose to represent Wales due to his Dad, Craig Morgan, has had a stellar season for Everton and Wales at youth levels and the goal is the latest milestone in what is looking like a promising Everton career.
The striker has already received plenty of plaudits. He was named by the Guardian as their ‘next gen’ pick of the Everton academy in 2023, where he was described as: “A powerful, fast centre-forward with an eye for goal, Morgan has scored consistently throughout his Everton career to date.”
Morgan says he models his game on Robert Lewandowski and is a physical, quick striker who has shown he has an eye for goal. He signed his first contract with Everton in summer 2024 and has a year left on the deal and despite injuries his progress has been excellent this year.
On signing his contract last year he said: ““Being here since I was seven, eventually playing at the new stadium would be great. I want to play in the Premier League for Everton and be their main striker one day, so that’s the main target for me.”
At u18 level it would be easy to play second fiddle to Braiden Graham, whose arrival from Linfield in the summer was a major coup for Everton. However, it was the older Morgan who first made his step up to the Everton u21 side.
After six goals in 12 u18 games and three more in the FA Youth Cup, Morgan made the step up to u21 level where he has deputised for fellow promising striker Martin Sherif. Morgan has had to remain patient but scored his first goal at u21 level against Norwich on Monday night.
It is not the only important goal he has scored this year. Early in the season after a few injuries Morgan returned to Wales u19 international duty and scored a late equaliser against Italy in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
He also starred as Everton came from behind to beat Liverpool u18s earlier in the season. He scored a header from a corner before setting up a late winner scored by Kean Wren in November, and followed it with an impressive double at Middlesborough and a second brace against Wolves at Goodison Park in the FA Youth Cup.
Able to use his physicality to win headers, Morgan’s pace and composure also means he is a threat in behind the defence and his two well-taken goals against Wolves certainly caught the eye in a game streamed live to Evertonians across the world.
At just 18 Morgan has a long way to go to make it as an Everton first team player but he now has a chance to establish himself as the club’s go-to u21 striker in the new season. Martin Sherif’s excellent form – he scored again against Norwich – could see a loan move on the cards and if it is deemed too early in Morgan’s development to go out he could find the u21 number 9 shirt his for the taking.