Everton add to Under-23 squad with French forward

Everton today announced the signing of another player for the Under-23 squad. Forward Boris Mathis comes over from Metz’ youth squad on a two-year deal.

Mathis is the second signing made specifically for the youth squad after defender Nathangelo Markelo came onboard earlier this summer.

There is very little information available on the player who made just two senior team appearances for Metz last season in Ligue 1, a total of twenty minutes game time in which he registered one shot on goal. Previous to that, he scored five times in 23 appearances for the Metz B squad in the National 3 minor league in France.

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Speaking to evertonfc after his signing, he said -

“I am very happy and honoured to sign for Everton. It is a great club and I have always liked English football and the Premier League.

“I have followed Everton from France. The Club has some great players and I’m very excited to become part of it.

“My first impressions have been very good. I like the movement and the intensity of the players. Everyone has also been very welcoming to me as well, which has been nice.

“David Unsworth is a very good coach. Of course, he played in the Premier League and I can already see how good he is.”

Speaking about his ambitions while at the Blues, he added -

“My dream is to play for the first team here. Ronald Koeman is a huge figure, not only as a coach now but his reputation as a player speaks for itself as well.

“I want to play in the Premier League for Everton.”

While there is very little information available on the player, we spoke with renowned Ligue 1 football blog French Football Weekly about the player, and their comments will not leave Everton fans with warm fuzzy feelings about the player or his prospects.

Mathis was not offered an extension to his Metz contract which was expiring at the end of the 2016-17 season, and the two games he played at the end of the season didn’t necessarily interest too many teams, with only Everton linked to the player.

Metz fans, who described Mathis as quick and skillful by on their official forum discussion board, were equally bemused by interest in the player from the Toffees. Most wished him well with few regrets, but also more than one also lamented that Metz had also let superstars Michel Platini and Antoine Griezmann walk away from the club for nothing as youngsters. Evertonians will be hoping that if this prospect turns out to be even half as good as the previous pair then this gamble will have paid off handsomely.