Davies up for Golden Boy award

Everton midfielder Tom Davies has been shortlisted for the 2018 Golden Boy award. Davies, 20, is part of the 60-man list of nominees for the prize, of which the winner will be revealed in December. The annual award recognises the most exciting footballing talents under the age of 21 playing in Europe.

After making his Blues debut against Southampton in April 2016, Davies has played 74 times for his boyhood club, scoring four goals.

Last Wednesday, he became Everton’s youngest-ever starting captain when he led the side out at Goodison Park for their 3-1 victory over Rotherham United in the Carabao Cup second round.

The Golden Boy award was established by Italian newspaper Tuttosport in 2003 and is decided by a panel comprising 30 sports journalists. Its past winners include Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero.

Davies was also one of last year’s nominees after an excellent 2016/17 which saw him break into the Everton first team. He went on to lose out to French striker Kylian Mbappé.

This year, Davies’ competition for the award again includes Mbappé, as well as Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ryan Sessegnon of Fulham. Here is the list of all the nominees as well as all the past winners of the honour.