Former Linfield star Braiden Graham has signed his first professional contract with Premier League club Everton, penning a three-year deal.
The Northern Ireland Under-19 international, who turned 17 on Thursday, has enjoyed an outstanding start to life at Goodison.
The young striker has netted an impressive eight goals in seven Everton Under-18s matches, after leaving Linfield in the summer. He recently made his debut for Everton U21s, playing against Stockport County in the Football League Trophy.
Braiden said: “It’s unreal. It’s something I’ve always worked for since being a kid. All those years – the hard work and sacrifices – it’s been rewarded.
“I knew before I came to Everton that I’d have to hit the ground running because the best players will do that. Since I arrived, I’ve wanted to play well, score goals and help the team – and I think I’ve been doing that.
“I’ve been getting in the right places at the right time and been able to know where to be and where the ball will fall.
All the boys have helped me to settle in really well. They were very welcoming and they’re good lads, so I think I’ve settled in very quickly.
“It’s such a big family club and everyone here made me feel very welcome. I just see a good pathway at this club for me to come through.”
Graham is desperate to play at Everton’s new stadium, which is set open next year.
“The Under-18s team, we all went down to see the stadium the other day,” he revealed. “It’s unreal. We might play there in Youth Cup games, and I think it’d be great to play there one day.
“But you want to play there in front of a full stadium so that’s the goal.”