CONFIRMED: Anthony Gordon joins Preston on loan from Everton

Everton have loaned winger Anthony Gordon to Championship side Preston North End for the rest of the season.

Gordon, 19, has made the temporary switch to Deepdale having made only seven appearances this season for Carlo Ancelotti’s side this term.

He will now look for more regular playing time with Alex Neil’s Lilywhites, who currently sit 11th in the second tier.

Gordon made his Everton first team debut in a Europa League dead rubber 3-0 win at Apollon Limassol in December 2017, and became a more consistent fixture in the senior squad during the second half of the last season.

But he has found minutes hard to come by at Goodison Park lately, with Alex Iwobi and Bernard usually coming off the bench ahead of him for the wide positions.

Gordon has another four years on his deal with Everton, after signing a new contract with the club in September.

He told Preston’s official website:

“I’m so excited. Preston is a massive club; I’m delighted to be here. I know it was last minute, but I can’t wait to get going.

“I’ve heard a lot about the club. I’ve been told all about the family feel of this club and that was a massive part of why I chose to come here. I think that’s my main reason for being here, I really want to start games and be involved in men’s football consistently.”

This loan spell should definitely help Gordon develop by playing regularly against hardened professionals, much like stints in the Championship had helped Ross Barkley and Mason Holgate in the past.

A busy transfer deadline day for Everton had already seen Jonas Lossl, Cenk Tosun and Jonjoe Kenny depart before Gordon, with Bournemouth forward Joshua King set to join Goodison.