Everton have submitted their retained player list for 2025-26 which provides an update on the contract status of a number of their Under-21 players, with some out of contract this month.
Owen Barker, Jack Butler, Luke Butterfield, Billy Crellin, Matthew Apter, Zan-Luk Leban and Jack Tierney are being released and will leave Everton this month.
- Owen Barker had a difficult season with most appearances (9) coming from the bench out of 16 in PL2 and other competitions.
- Jack Butler fared slightly better, with 9 starts and 4 more substitute appearances off the bench, scoring 1 goal, but he saw no action at all in the second half of the season.
- Luke Butterfield's long association with the Academy comes to an end on the back of a difficult season that saw him out injured for 2 months in January and February. He made 13 starts, 4 more as a sub, and scored 2 goals.
- Billy Crellin appeared to be on the fast track to becoming a key goalkeeping asset after he signed a 2-year contract as backup to Joao Virgina, but the lifelong Evertonian, who joined from Fleetwood Town in January 2022, spent the season out on loan at Accrington Stanley.
- Matty Apter had terrible luck with injuries, managing just 1 start with 6 more as a sub.
- Zan-Luk Leban is another goalkeeper who was highly rated but has simply run out of time in a tough competition with Fraser Barnsley for the U21 goalkeeper's shirt.
- Jack Tierney made 7 starts with 2 more as a sub — all before his last appearance in late November of last year.
Fraser Barnsley, Callum Bates, Eli Campbell, Coby Ebere, Isaac Heath and Jack Patterson have been offered new deals, while scholars George Finney, Harvey Foster, Luca Davis, Aled Thomas and Joshua van Schoor have been offered first professional contracts.
Meanwhile, there continues to be no definitive word on the contracts offered to Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Idrissa Gana Gueye, with the situation for Seamus Coleman and Michael Keane also unclear going into next season. Charly Alcaraz remains the only definite signing made so far this summer after his half-season loan was converted into a permanent deal.
The list of Everton players under contract or offer, with their full names is:
Armstrong, Harrison David
Barnsley, Fraser Paul (Extended)
Bates, Callum Terry (Offer)
Beaumont-Clark, Jacob Adam
Benjamin, Omari Kai
Boakye, Kingsford Yiadom
Branthwaite, Jarrad Paul
Campbell, Elijah Xavier (Offer)
Catesby, Joel William
Coleman, Seamus (Offer)
Dixon, Roman Ivan Quintyne
Doucoure, Abdoulaye (Offer)
Ebere, Okezie Chibuike Coby (Offer)
Garner, James David
Gomes Betuncal, Norberto Bercique
Graham, Braiden David Jay
Gueye, Idrissa Gana (Offer)
Heath, Isaac Theodor Lambie (Extended)
Iroegbunam, Timothy Emeka
Lukjanciks, Douglass
McNeil, Dwight James Matthew
Metcalfe, Jenson
Moonan, Bradley
Morgan, George Charlie
Mykolenko, Vitalii
Ndiaye, Iliman-Cheikh Baroy
O’Brien, Jake Patrick
Okoronkwo, Francis Okereke
Onyango, Tyler Jaden Napier Edward
Patterson, Jack David (Offer)
Patterson, Nathan Kenneth
Pickford, George John
Pickford, Jordan Lee
Ramalho Chermiti, Youssef
Samuels-Smith, Odin Darren
Sherif, Martin
Tambadou, Francis Gomez
Tamen, William Nkwawu
Tarkowski, James Alan
Tyrer, Harry Alfred
Welch, Reece Belfield
Scholars
Akarakiri, Ademide Oreoluwa
Clarke, Jaykar Justin Donte
Finney, George (Offer Contract)
Foster, Harvey John (Offer Contract)
Freedman, Freddie Ray
Gardner, Luis John
Gospel-Eze, Goodness Chiemerie
Hacker Davis, Luca Isaac (Offer Contract)
Lambert, Rocco Marlo
Loney, Ceiran
Matos, Melvin Wiafe Akenten
Poland, Louis Thomas
Stewart, Charlie David
Thomas, Aled Osian (Offer Contract)
Van Schoor, Joshua Mark (Offer Contract)
Wren, Kean Adam
Reader Comments (4)
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3 Posted 09/06/2025 at 17:02:29
We need 3/4 sensible free transfers, 2/3 high quality signings (in attack) and loans or bargains to complete the rest.
I’m sure they’re doing something behind the scenes but it would be nice to hear a little bit of reassurance.
4 Posted 09/06/2025 at 21:22:05
Presume another to add on the list of released.
6 Posted 09/06/2025 at 23:13:04
It's in this area where we need to get it right and expend our resources on getting a better scouting network and development coaches. It's a far better strategy than trying to compete with the wealthier clubs for players that more astute clubs have already developed.
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1 Posted 09/06/2025 at 14:27:26
That list really brings home the scale of the rebuilding task doesn't it.
No first choice right-back really, no cover or pressure at left. Centre mid needs strengthening with options. Pace required wide and definitely another forward, plus more goalkeeping cover. Additions all over the park.
I hope there's a bloody good plan about to kick in soon…