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The youth movement under Ronald Koeman has been a revelation at Goodison Park this season, and leading the charge from the beginning has been homegrown youngster Tom Davies.
A throwback player with uncoiffed hair and short socks, Davies’ all action attitude in midfield has quickly endeared himself to his manager and Everton supporters alike.
The teenager has played in every first team fixture since Boxing Day against Leicester City, a run which included an incredible goal in the 4-0 win over Manchester City. His excellent season has been rewarded with a new five-year-deal which will see him at the club until 2022.
| “It means everything to me to get a chance to be in the Everton first team and to try to stay there." pic.twitter.com/MZbDzaf1yP
— Everton (@Everton) April 3, 2017
Davies, for his part, credits other Everton Academy products for his rise, as well as U23 coach David Unsworth.
“I used to look at Mikel Arteta and aspire to be out there playing alongside my heroes and, obviously, Wayne Rooney and Ross Barkley who came through the Academy here, too, have been inspirational figures for me.
“Hopefully, young players in the Academy now can see how I have been able to progress and make my way to the Everton first team, just as Matty, Callum, Kieran and Jonjoe have also done, but we all know that the hard work doesn’t stop because we want to be part of taking the Club to the next level as well.
“We’ve had some big results this season and we’re fighting for a European place in the Premier League and we want to help get Everton to where the Club needs to be and where the supporters want us to be.
“People like David Unsworth have been great in helping me and other players to develop our game and become Everton players and it’s a privilege to be playing under this manager with everything he’s done and achieved in the game. I’m learning more and improving every day and I’m delighted to have been given this opportunity by the Club.”
Davies is part of a young group of rising stars that will look to carry Everton further into the club’s new era, and it won’t be long before we see him terrorizing opposition midfields at the new Bramley Moore ground.