U23s protégé Evans pens new contract

Tuesday, 20 February, 2018 19comments  |  Jump to most recent

Everton Academy midfielder Antony Evans has signed a new contract that runs until 2020, the club have announced.

The 19-year-old has become an integral part of David Unsworth's Under-23s this season, and has hit the net three times since the turn of the year.

He was made captain of the side at Barnsley last week, where he scored the only goal of the game, continuing his development as a hugely promising product of the Finch Farm Academy.

“Everton is a great club and I am delighted to sign for another couple of years,” he told evertontv.

“I wanted to get a foothold in the team [this season], kick on and get a contract. We have a new [first-team] manager and new ways, so it is an exciting time at the Club.

“Ultimately, I want to try to get in the first team, whether that is through going on loan again or staying with the Under-23s and continuing to perform consistently.”

 

Reader Comments (19)

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Eddie Dunn
1 Posted 20/02/2018 at 17:34:33
This guy looks very promising and I hope Sam gives him a run-out in the first team before the end of this season.
Derek Knox
2 Posted 20/02/2018 at 17:39:52
Good Evans, good news at last, this lad has always taken the eye when I have seen him play.

Let's hope he can make the step up, in the not too distant future.

Dermot Byrne
3 Posted 20/02/2018 at 17:44:06
'scuse my ignorance. What kind of midfielder is he?
Jay Wood
[BRZ]

4 Posted 20/02/2018 at 17:50:30
Similar to Kieran Dowell, Dermont. A bit of a playmaker but possibly got a bit more to the physical side of the game than Kieran has.

From what I've seen, Kieran still has better innate football skills, though.

Keith Harrison
5 Posted 20/02/2018 at 19:11:05
This kid is Ian Bishop to a tee. Cracking player, and still very young. More physical and pacier than Dowell, glad to see him given a new contract.
Dave Abrahams
6 Posted 20/02/2018 at 19:21:05
Antony seems to have found a big belief in himself. At 16 he was doing well and coaches at the club thought he had a very bright future ahead of him, scored regularly and good ball control.

A big lad and with time to grow further, big things were expected of him, then he seemed to stall, didn't improve as expected. But this season he has found his love of the game coming back.

He now wants the ball, goes looking for it and has scored and assisted in quite a few games and he has been rewarded with this new contract and can hopefully have a bright future in football with Everton. Well done, Antony, and good luck with your career.

Dean Cooper
7 Posted 20/02/2018 at 19:23:25
Was this signed in October too?..
Bryan Houghton
8 Posted 20/02/2018 at 19:27:29
Good News, and a no brainer for me – Every time I've seen this lad play he has been the best player on the pitch by some distance - and that includes players on the pitch the likes of Beni and on one occasion Mason Holgate.

Keith suggests Ian Bishop but, for me, each time I've seen him, he has reminded me of a young Steve McManaman. Looks a bit like him (scruffy longish hair, baggy socks hanging, needs to fill out a bit), but more importantly runs straight at you with the ball, can see a pass, and can stroke the ball into places that lesser players cant even see. In other words, Direct, and cultured.

Still, others have commented that he can drift in and out of games, but at 19 he is someone to be really hopeful for. If he can get game time next season with Tom Davies, Keiran Dowell, Mason, Ademola Lookman and Jonjoe Kenny, and get Beni Baningime back with the A team then exciting times.

I'm told a local lad as well (maybe Kirkdale – can't remember?) – even better !

Peter Gorman
9 Posted 20/02/2018 at 20:18:32
Many years ago Martinez banged on about this quality number 10 in the youth team and I thought it was Evans but most probably correctly guessed he meant Dowell.

The young Evans was a rangy little playmaker with a knack of ghosting into the box to score but at the tender age of 16 moved upfront as an all-out striker for the U23s (or U21s as they maybe were) where he initially banged in goal after goal.

Just as Dave says; went a little off the boil for a bit, don't think his stint upfront with Morecambe was very prolific though undoubtedly a great experience. In fact, Dave's post is a pretty brilliant summary of the kid so far.

Now he seems to have physically filled out and is back in the midfield pulling the strings as a Number 10 or cutting in from the wing (hey, if it's good enough for Sigurdsson). A very. very talented youngster who is becoming integral to the U23s – I totally get Bryan's McManaman comparison; I'd give anything for Evans to be as successful.

John Dean
10 Posted 20/02/2018 at 20:33:39
When he first made the U23 starting 11, he played as a striker albeit at a time when we didn't have any others worth their salt. He played very well at right wing-back more recently.
Alan J Thompson
11 Posted 21/02/2018 at 03:14:13
19 years old? He's got another 6 years before this manager will consider him.
Rob Baker
12 Posted 21/02/2018 at 08:33:10
If he's half as good as Schneiderlin then Sam will love him

Joking aside, made up for this lad as based on the YouTube U23 footage, he looks decent. Surely a shoo-in for game time once Sam believes we are safe.

Ian Burns
13 Posted 21/02/2018 at 08:49:54
I haven't had the pleasure of seeing the young Evans play as yet, so I am grateful for the assessments and reports above. It looks as though I have something to look forward to!

Good luck Antony, wishing you nothing but the best.

Steven Jones
14 Posted 21/02/2018 at 09:29:09
Alan (#11) – Yep, just like Kenny, Calvert-Lewin, Davies, Vlasic, Holgate... :-0)
Clive Rogers
15 Posted 21/02/2018 at 10:36:01
I read about him a while ago, but got the impression he was a striker? He was compared to big Dunc.
Barry Pearce
16 Posted 21/02/2018 at 11:11:48
Without doubt he has been mighty impressive this season. Deserves his contract.

Clive (#15), I think the player you speak of might be Fraser Hornby. He's a big imposing lad brilliant in the air. Hopefully he will push on as well. He played in Cyprus, when Lookman scored twice.

Paul Thompson
17 Posted 21/02/2018 at 18:16:26
Bryan (#8), a young McMannaman isn't a bad comparison. He was easily the best player in a game I watched recently. Skilful, but with more grit than Dowell. Pleased he's signed.
Clive Rogers
18 Posted 21/02/2018 at 21:35:23
Barry, #16, you’re right, thanks. Senior moment.
Alan J Thompson
19 Posted 22/02/2018 at 15:24:08
Steven (#14); So you don't believe what the Manager had to say?

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