Everton begin summer cull at the youth level

This is going to be yet another summer of change at Everton as the club looks to change how it operates, from the Board level right down to the Academy. The Blues have gotten the ball rolling by releasing eight members of the Under-18 team that finished in fifth place in the Under-18 Premier League under Paul Tait in his first season in charge.

The youngsters being let go are mostly bit-part players who have a sum total of one senior squad showing between the eight of them, Stephen Duke-McKenna who was on the bench for Everton’s dead-rubber trip to Apollon Limassol in this season’s Europa League group stages.

Tom Murphy, goalkeeper

The Irish-born 17-year-old featured just once for the Under-18s in a 2-0 loss against Sunderland’s youth.

Jordan Corke, defender

The 18-year-old center half has been with the Academy since the age of seven, playing in four games over two seasons in the Under-18 Premier League.

Nathan Moore, left back

Moore has been with the club for five years since the age of 13, and was even named captain for a couple of games this season. He has made a total of 41 appearances for the Under-18s with one assist in that time.

Nathan Baxter, defender

The 18-year-old, who spent some time at Vitesse Arnhem’s academy in the Netherlands before joining Everton three years ago, played mostly at right back for the Blues and featured ten times in two seasons in the U-18 Premier League.

Tom Scully, defensive midfielder

Scully featured in the youth side’s midfield in 18 games, scoring thrice and assisting another three times as well and earned a call-up to the Under-23 team for one PL2 game. The youngster had switched over from Merseyside rivals Liverpool three years ago, and is expected to join Norwich City where he finished this last season.

Sid Kerr, central midfielder

Another 18-year-old, Kerr came to the Blues via Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion and played in 13 games over two seasons for the Under-18s.

Stephen Duke-McKenna, right midfielder

The local-born 17-year-old player is eligible to play for four countries: England, Guyana, Holland and the Republic of Ireland. He had one goal and four assists in sixteen games this season, playing down the right wing. In his 40 games for the team, he has lined up all over the midfield, but has been deemed surplus to requirements at the club.

Charlie Ball, forward

After making seven appearances last season and scoring once with one assist, the 18-year-old found himself left out of the squad this season, on the bench for two games this season with no minutes played.