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Matthew Pennington made his first-team breakthrough at Everton in 2015/16 when he started the final four Premier League matches of the campaign.
The versatile defender, who joined the Club aged 11, made his senior Toffees debut in August 2015 in a League Cup victory at Barnsley.
Pennington adapted comfortably to the demands of the English top-flight and earned man-of-the-match honours for his display in a 2-1 home victory over Bournemouth in April 2016.
He played an important role for the Under-23s in 2016/17 as the young Blues were crowned the inaugural Premier League 2 champions.
Pennington made three first-team appearances in the same season, the first of which saw him score a maiden senior goal against Liverpool at Anfield.
The player was part of the Everton squad which made the groundbreaking trip to Tanzania in summer 2017. Days after returning from Africa, he joined Leeds United on a season-long loan for 2017/18.
Pennington played 24 times in the Championship for the Elland Road club and following his stay in Yorkshire signed a new deal with Everton to tie him to Goodison Park until at least summer 2021.
The Warrington-born youngster got his first taste of senior football in January 2014 when he joined Tranmere Rovers on a month's loan and had a second temporary spell at Prenton Park later in the season.
He then impressed on loan at Coventry City in 2014/15, making 25 appearances for the League One outfit and securing the Sky Blues’ Young-Player-of-the-Year award.
After his Everton debut at Oakwell in August 2015, Pennington suffered an ankle injury which temporarily halted his progress.
He returned to fitness and was signed by Walsall on loan in April 2016 but was recalled after five appearances as Everton sought defensive reinforcements towards the end of the campaign.
In August 2018, Pennington joined Ipswich Town for the 2018/19 campaign. He played 30 Championship matches and scored one goal during his stay at Portman Road.
He played 16 matches on loan at Hull City in 2019/20 and after switching to Shrewsbury Town on a temporary deal for the second half of 2020/21 made 20 appearances for the League One club.
Contracted until: June 2021
