Everton are set to target Italy, Spain and Portugal in a new recruitment plan that will see the club seek talented youngsters from some of Europe’s football hot beds.
The club is continuing its recruitment overhaul under Director of Football Kevin Thelwell and manager Sean Dyche and it has now created a new position for a Senior European Scout focused on three countries it has described as ‘critical regions’.
The club has released a job listing which says: “Our vision to develop young players who are technically and tactically capable of playing for Everton’s Men’s First Team, or having a career in the professional game, remains as focused as ever. We now have an extremely exciting new opportunity for a Senior European Scout to join the team, leading our coverage across the critical regions of Italy, Spain, and Portugal.”
In the job listing the club says: “Within the role, you would work closely with our Head of Recruitment and Senior Manager of Scouting Operations to identify top-talent in the regions, whilst leading on the assessment of players of interest and providing reports to the management team that will aid in recruitment decisions. This role is critical in achieving comprehensive coverage across the regions, it is essential that the postholder has expert knowledge of the leagues, and the players within, maintaining and updating this knowledge whilst within the role. You will build and maintain positive and productive relationships, not only across the Everton Family but also externally, to ensure we are able to recruit the very best players. ”
It follows the recruitment of former Portsmouth Head of Recruitment Phil Boardman, who joined Everton as a European Senior Scout for the Germany, Belgium and Netherlands region in November 2023. Boardman, who has previously worked with Thelwell at Wolves. It gives Everton dedicated senior scouts in many of the key European nations.
Boardman and the new recruit will form a team with Manager of Scouting Operations, Lee Sargeson, who joined the club from Brighton in 2023. It means Everton’s scouting operation has been completely transformed over the course of 18 months as Thelwell’s changes begin to take shape.
Everton’s European recruitment has been hit and miss in recent years, with many signings instead coming from the English leagues. However, the successful purchase and subsiquent £50 million sale of Amadou Onana and the recruitment of talented youngster Youssef Chermiti have signalled a new direction for Everton’s recruitment.
The club has also moved into the market for youngsters for the u21 teams in the shape of Kingsford Boakye, who joined the club from AC Milan in the January February. The 19-year-old Ghanian attacker will spend time with the u21s in the upcoming season.
Thelwell’s decision to target youngsters with a sell on value is partly down to the financial situation around the club. He has been targeting reducing playing costs and the club has gone down from an average wage of £62.5k in 2022 to £52.8k in 2023 to a projected £57.7k in 2024. This means spending less on established players and more on talented youngsters. The new scout recruit will be integral to that as Everton expand their range across Europe.