Everton U21 defender Ryan Astley has completed a free transfer to Dundee after agreeing personal terms.
The 22-year-old centre-back has been a regular for the U21s but has found it difficult to make the giant step up to the first team despite progressing through the ranks of the Everton Academy since age 9. He has tasted life on the senior subs bench on just 2 occasions in the last 3 years.
He spent last season on loan with Accrington Stanley after establishing himself in the Everton U21 side over the previous four seasons and captaining the side with over 30 appearances in PL2 and other competitions in 2021-22. His loan spell went well until last February when he picked up a bad ankle injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season, and likely scuppered any chance of a further loan this season, although Everton granted him a 1-year extension to his contract.
He now leaves the club where he grew up to accept a 2½-year deal, with Everton apparently getting no transfer or development fee for the years he has spent in the Academy, although the BBC claim that Dundee have paid an “undisclosed fee”.
Dundee manager Tony Docherty welcomed him, saying:
“Ryan is one that we have done extensive scouting on and we feel that he will fit in very well here.
“He’s an old-school defender who enjoys defending and we think he can enhance the squad that we have here.”