Everton’s world-renowned Academy has produced a host of top footballers including Wayne Rooney, Leon Osman and current Blues midfielder Tom Davies. A total of 50 players have came through the Club's Academy to make their Everton first-team debuts during the Premier League era. Find out more about each of those below...
Tony Grant
Everton debut: v Manchester City, December 1993
Midfielder Tony Grant made 79 first-team appearances for Everton between 1993-1999, before moving to Manchester City. He continued to play professionally until 2008, most notably enjoying a successful four-year spell at Burnley.
Jon O’Connor
Everton debut: v Manchester United, February 1996
Darlington-born defender Jon O’Connor made his senior Everton debut in 1995 and made five appearances for the Blues. After leaving the Club in 1998, he had stints at Sheffield United and Blackpool.
Michael Branch
Everton debut: v Manchester United (a), February 1996
Talented striker Michael Branch made his senior debut against Manchester United at Old Trafford, coming on as a substitute for fellow Academy graduate Tony Grant. He scored three goals in 45 senior outings for the Blues. Branch now works for Everton in the Community as a support mentor.
Graham Allen
Everton debut: v Middlesbrough (a), December 1996
After six first-team outings for Everton, Graham Allen moved to Tranmere Rovers in 1998, where he more than 200 appearances. The centre-back also played for Rushden & Diamonds and Chester City.
Richard Dunne
Everton debut: v Swindon Town (a), January 1997
Irishman Richard Dunne made 72 first-team appearances for Everton before moving to Manchester City. He became captain in a successful nine-year stay at City and also enjoyed spells at Aston Villa and Queens Park Rangers. Dunne won 80 caps for Republic of Ireland.
Michael Ball
Everton debut: v Tottenham Hotspur (h), April 1997
Left-back Ball played 139 first-team games for Everton, scoring eight goals for his boyhood club. Ball moved to Glasgow Rangers in 2001 and also played for PSV Eindhoven and Manchester City.
Danny Cadamarteri
Everton debut: v Chelsea (h), May 1997
The exciting striker made 50 starts and 61 substitute appearances for Everton. Yorkshire-born Cadamarteri netted in a 2-0 Merseyside derby victory over Liverpool in October 1997 and scored a total of 15 goals for the Blues.
Gavin McCann
Everton debut: v Newcastle United (a), September 1997
After making 11 first-team appearances for Everton, McCann linked up with Toffees hero Peter Reid at Sunderland in 1998. Midfielder McCann went on to have a successful Premier League career, emerging as a key player at the Stadium of Light and also impressing at Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers.
Francis Jeffers
Everton debut: v Manchester United (a), December 1997
Gifted striker Jeffers made his first-team debut aged just 16, coming on as a half-time substitute against Manchester United at Old Trafford. He would go on to score 20 goals in 60 first team outings for the Blues before leaving for Arsenal in 2001. Jeffers returned to Everton on loan for the 2003/04 season and also played for Charlton Athletic, Glasgow Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday. Jeffers is currently a coach in the Everton Under-23s set-up.
Jamie Milligan
Everton debut: v Arsenal (a), November 1998
After making four substitute appearances for Everton, Milligan left the Blues for Blackpool in 2001. He subsequently turned out for a number of teams including Fleetwood Town, Southport and Stockport County.
Adam Farley
Everton debut: v Derby County (a), February 1999
Defender Farley made his solitary first-team appearance for Everton as a substitute in a Premier League game at Derby County in February 1999. Farley would have a successful career in non-league football, most notably representing Droylsden and Marine.
Phil Jevons
Everton debut: v Blackburn Rovers (a), March 1999
Striker Jevons made nine first-team outings for the Blues and went on to enjoy a prolific professional career for the likes of Grimsby Town, Yeovil Town and Huddersfield Town. Jevons is now a coach for Everton Academy.
Kevin McLeod
Everton debut: v Ipswich Town (h), September 2000
After seven first-team appearances for Everton, McLeod moved to Queens Park Rangers in 2003. He also had stints at Swansea City, Colchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Peter Clarke
Everton debut: v Coventry City (a), January 2001
Clarke has enjoyed significant success in the Football League and, aged 38, is currently contracted to League One Tranmere Rovers. After 14 senior outings for Everton, he moved to Blackpool in 2004. Clarke has played more than 600 professional matches.
Tony Hibbert
Everton debut: v West Ham United (a), March 2001
One-club man Tony Hibbert sits joint-sixth on Everton’s Premier League appearance list, having made 265 top-flight appearances for the Toffees. He famously never scored a competitive goal for Everton but drilled home a 20-yard free-kick in his testimonial match against AEK Athens at Goodison Park in 2012.
Nick Chadwick
Everton debut: v Crystal Palace (h), September 2001
Striker Nick Chadwick scored six goals in 21 appearances for Everton. His three Premier League strikes all came in April 2002, when he netted against Bolton Wanderers, Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers. After leaving Everton in 2005, he went on to played for a number of clubs including Plymouth Argyle, Shrewsbury Town and Stockport County.
Wayne Rooney
Everton debut: v Tottenham Hotspur (h), August 2002
Wayne Rooney announced himself to the football world in October 2002 when he struck a stunning last-minute winner against Arsenal at Goodison Park. He hit 17 goals in his first stint at Everton before joining Manchester United in 2004. Rooney became United’s record goalscorer and returned to Everton for a second spell in 2017. He left Goodison for DC United one year later and is currently a player/coach at Derby County. Rooney is England’s all-time record goalscorer, having netted 53 times for his country.
Leon Osman
Everton debut: v Tottenham Hotspur (a), January 2003
Only goalkeeper Tim Howard has made more top-flight appearances for Everton than skilful midfielder Leon Osman during the Premier League era. Save for spells at Carlisle United and Derby County, Osman spent the entirety of his 16-year professional career at Everton. He made a total of 433 first-team appearances for the Blues, scoring 58 goals.
James Vaughan
Everton debut: v Crystal Palace (h), April 2005
James Vaughan remains the Premier League’s youngest ever goalscorer after netting on his senior Everton debut against Crystal Palace in April 2005 at the age of just 16 years and 271 days. Part of the side that played in the 2009 FA Cup final, he ended his time at Goodison Park having scored nine goals in 60 appearances. Vaughan is currently contracted to Bradford City.
Victor Anichebe
Everton debut: v Chelsea (h), January 2006
After making his senior debut in 2006, powerful striker Anichebe would become an important squad member for Everton. He hit a total of 25 goals for the Club before moving to West Bromwich Albion in 2013. Anichebe has won 11 senior caps for Nigeria.
Mark Hughes
Everton debut: v Peterborough United (a), September 2006
Having learned his trade at Everton, where he made three senior outings, Hughes has enjoyed a successful professional career. He is currently playing for Accrington Stanley and helped the team win promotion to League One in 2018/19.
Bjarni Vidarson
Everton debut: v AZ Alkmaar (a), December 2007
Icelander Vidarson made his only Everton appearance as a substitute in the Blues’ Europa League clash at AZ Alkmaar in 2007. He left Everton for FC Twente in 2008 and has since represented the likes of Belgian side Roeselare and Danish outfit Silkeborg.
Jack Rodwell
Everton debut: v AZ Alkmaar (a), December 2007
Midfielder Rodwell made 109 first-team appearances and scored eight goals for Everton. Rodwell won all three of his England caps while with the Blues. He moved to Manchester City in 2013 and is now at Sheffield United.
Jose Baxter
Everton debut: v Blackburn Rovers (h), August 2008
Jose Baxter became Everton’s youngest-ever senior player when he made his debut against Blackburn Rovers on the opening day of the 2008/09 season – the midfielder was aged just 16 years and 191 days. Baxter made 15 first-team appearances for Everton before leaving for Oldham Athletic in 2012. He currently plays for US team Memphis 901, which is co-owned by former Blues goalkeeper Tim Howard.
James Wallace
Everton debut: v Sigma Olomouc (a), August 2009
Midfielder Wallace made his solitary senior Everton appearance in a UEFA Europa League clash at Sigma Olomouc in August 2009. An England Under-20 international, Wallace is now plying his trade for League One Fleetwood Town.
Kieran Agard
Everton debut: Hull City (a), September 2009
London-born striker Agard made six first-team appearances for Everton before moving to Yeovil Town in 2011. He has scored regularly in the professional game and now leads the line for Milton Keynes Dons.
Shane Duffy
Everton debut: AEK Athens (a), December 2009
Republic of Ireland international Shane Duffy played 10 first-team matches for Everton. After moving to Blackburn Rovers and subsequently current club Brighton & Hove Albion, he has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most consistent defenders. He won the Seagulls’ Player of the Year award in 2018/19.
Adam Forshaw
Everton debut: v BATE Borisov, December 2009
Midfielder Forshaw, who made two senior appearances for Everton, has enjoyed an impressive professional career – shining in the Championship for Brentford and Middlesbrough. He is currently a member of Marcelo Bielsa’s talented Leeds United squad.
Jack Bidwell
Everton debut: v BATE Borisov, December 2009
Bidwell’s solitary Everton appearance came in a Europa League group stage game against to BATE Borisov in December 2009. He moved to Brentford in 2013 and is now playing for Championship side Swansea City.
Nathan Craig
Everton debut: v BATE Borisov, December 2009
Craig also played his only senior match for Everton in that clash with BATE Borisov. The midfielder is now with hometown club Caernarfon Town in the Welsh Premier League.
Hope Akpan
Everton debut: v BATE Borisov, December 2009
Nigeria international midfielder Akpan was another who made his Blues debut in Everton’s European encounter with BATE. Having also had stints at Blackburn Rovers and Burton Albion, Akpan moved to Bradford City in 2018.
Ross Barkley
Everton debut: v Queens Park Rangers, August 2011
Wavertree-born Barkley made his first-team debut as a 17-year-old in an August 2011 game against QPR. Barkley went on to make 179 appearances for Everton before moving to Chelsea in 2018. His form for Everton earned Barkley a senior England debut in August 2013, aged 19. He has featured in England squads at both the World Cup and European Championships.
Conor McAleny
Everton debut: v Arsenal (a), December 2009
Striker McAleny made his Everton bow in a Premier League clash at Arsenal in December 2011. He made two further first-team appearances for the Blues and impressed in a succession of loan moves before moving permanently to Fleetwood Town in 2017.
Luke Garbutt
Everton debut:v Leyton Orient (h), August 2012
Full-back Garbutt made his debut during the 2012/13 season and has made 12 senior outings for the Blues. The England Under-21 international has been on loan at a number of clubs and joined League One Ipswich Town on a temporary deal for the 2019/20 season, where he has played a key role in their push for promotion.
Tyias Browning
Everton debut: v Liverpool (a), September 2014
Defender Tyias Browning made his Everton debut in a Merseyside derby at Anfield, as the Blues battled out a 1-1 draw with Liverpool in September 2014. An England Under-21 international, Browning made nine first-team appearances for Everton. In 2019 he moved to Chinese Super League team Guangzhou Evergrande.
Ryan Ledson
Everton debut: v FC Krasnodar (h), December 2014
Tenacious midfielder Ledson made his Everton bow in a UEFA Europa League game against FC Krasnodar in December 2014. He moved to Oxford United in 2016 and is currently playing for Championship side Preston North End.
Kieran Dowell
Everton debut: v FC Krasnodar (h), December 2014
Talented attacking midfielder Dowell has made five first-team appearances for Everton. After signing an extended contract with the club, he moved to Sheffield United on loan for the 2018/19 season and helped the Blades secure promotion to the Premier League. Dowell was part of the England team that won the 2017 U20 FIFA World Cup.
Chris Long
Everton debut: v FC Krasnodar (h), December 2014
Forward Long made his solitary Everton appearance in the Blues’ Europa League game against Krasnador in December 2014. After spells with Burnley, Fleetwood Town and Blackpool, he now represents Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership.
Gethin Jones
Everton debut: v FC Krasnodar (h), December 2014
Wales Under-21 international Jones also made his debut in Everton’s clash with Krasnador at Goodison Park. He moved to Fleetwood Town in 2018 and is now playing for League Two Carlisle United.
Matthew Pennington
Everton debut: v Barnsley (a), August 2015
Defender Pennington has played nine first-team matches for Everton and scored one goal – netting at the Kop end in a Merseyside derby at Anfield. He has gained first-team experience during a number of loan spells and joined Championship side Hull City on a temporary basis for the 2019/20 season.
Callum Connolly
Everton debut: v Southampton (h), April 2016
Callum Connolly made his Everton first-team bow as a 54th-minute substitute in a 1-1 draw with Southampton in April 2016. The versatile midfielder was also part of England’s U20 FIFA World Cup-winning team. He joined Fleetwood Town on loan in 2020.
Tom Davies
Everton debut: v Southampton (h), April 2016
Dynamic midfielder Davies has made more than 100 senior appearances for Everton, despite only turning 21 in June 2019. In August 2018, Davies became Everton's youngest ever starting captain when he led out the Blues in their 3-1 Carabao Cup victory over Rotherham United at Goodison Park. He has been a regular for England at age group level and has captained the Young Lions' Under-21 team.
Jonjoe Kenny
Everton debut: v Norwich City (h), May 2016
Kenny made his Everton first-team debut in a Premier League game against Norwich City in May 2016. Kenny has gone on to play 40 senior matches for the Blues and joined Bundesliga side Schalke 04 on loan for the 2019/20 season. The full-back was an ever-present in the England team that won the U20 FIFA World Cup in 2017.
Beni Baningime
Everton debut: v Chelsea (a), October 2017
DR Congo-born Baningime made his professional debut in a League Cup game at Chelsea in October 2017. He made a further 11 first-team appearances that season, particularly impressing in a Merseyside derby showdown with Liverpool at Goodison Park. After a loan spell at Wigan Athletic was hampered by injury, he returned to Everton for the 2019/20 campaign, where he shone for David Unsworth’s Under-23s side.
Morgan Feeney
Everton debut: v Atalanta (h), November 2017
Commanding defender Feeney made his Everton debut in a Europa League encounter against Atalanta in November 2017. He was part of the Under-23s team that won the Premier League 2 title in 2016/17 and captained the young Blues to an unprecedented league and Premier League Cup double in 2018/19.
Harry Charsley
Everton debut: v Apollon Limassol (a), December 2017
Charsley was one of four Everton Academy players to make their debuts in 3-0 Europa League win at Cypriot side Apollon Limassol in December 2017. The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international joined League Two Mansfield Town in 2020.
Fraser Hornby
Everton debut: v Apollon Limassol (a), December 2017
Another player who made his bow in that game at Limassol, powerful target man Hornby was an integral part of Everton Under-23s’ 2018/19 double-winning team. A prolific goalscorer for Scotland’s Under-21 side, he joined Belgian side KV Kortrijk on loan for the 2019/20 season.
Nathan Broadhead
Everton debut: v Apollon Limassol (a), December 2017
Broadhead’s solitary senior Everton outing to date also came against Limassol. He won Everton Under-23s’ Player of the Year award in 2018/19 and moved to League One Burton Albion on loan for the following campaign, where he has gained valuable first-team experience.
Alex Denny
Everton debut: v Apollon Limassol (a), December 2017
Denny’s Everton debut also came in that Europa League triumph in Cyprus in December 2017. An energetic, versatile midfielder, he has been capped by England at Under-18 level.
Anthony Gordon
Everton debut: v Apollon Limassol (a), December 2017
After an explosive start to the 2019/20 campaign for Everton Under-23s, skilful forward Gordon has featured in Everton first-team squads on several occasions. A current England Under-19 international, he made his Premier League debut in the Blues’ draw at West Ham United in January 2020.
