Everton have beaten off competition from a number of clubs to sign 16-year-old striker Braiden Graham from Linfield following an initial report to that effect by MSN.
The teenager, who was also being closely monitored by Brighton, will join the Toffees at the end of this season on a scholarship deal with a view to turning professional when he turns 17.
In March, he became Linfield’s youngest ever player when he made his senior debut against Dungannon Swifts in the Irish Premiership at the age of 15 years and 137 days.
The Northern Ireland club’s manager, David Healy, said of Graham at the time: “He’s got all the tools, all the attributes, but we’ll not be getting carried away — he has got a long, tough road ahead of him.
“He brings goals, he brings energy. I’ve seen Braiden for the last three years or so in and around the academy — he stepped up to under-18s, he’s playing under-20s, against real physical specimens in some of the teams he is playing against.
“He’s brave and he’s ‘goals, goals, goals’, he prowls in and around and he’s a deadly finisher.
“He’ll get all the help and advice and coaching points that we can give him and I, as an ex-centre forward, can offer him. He’s a sponge, he wants to learn, and he has a good future ahead of him.”
Born in Darragh Cross, Graham has represented Northern Ireland at U16 and U17 level so far.