Everton Football Club operates an extensive and highly successful Youth Academy. Players such as Wayne Rooney, Richard Dunne, Michael Ball, Gavin McCann and Francis Jeffers have reached the top level through Everton's guidance. More recent players Tony Hibbert, Leon Osman, James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe make up some of the 20 graduates through the Academy since its inception in 2007/08.
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Past Everton Academy Players
Wayne Rooney
Rooney came through the Everton ranks to become just about the hottest property in world football. A stunning goal against Arsenal at Goodison in October 2002 announced his arrival and he became England's youngest ever goalscorer later that season. In 2004 he joined Manchester United.
Leon Osman
Osman really blossomed as a Premiership footballer during the 2005-06 season when his consistently good performances earned rave reviews. Injury as a youngster delayed his Everton debut until the end of the 2003-04 season but he is now an established member of the first-team and is a midfielder player with the proven touch of a goalscorer.
James Vaughan
James Vaughan exploded onto the Premiership scene at the end of the 2004-05 season when he became the youngest goalscorer in the club's history. In netting against Crystal Palace he also became the youngest top-flight scorer of all time.
Victor Anichebe
After making a debut substitute appearance against Chelsea in the FA Cup in January 2006, Anichebe opened his first-team account against West Brom on the final day of the season. A tall and powerful centre-forward, Anichebe is now a regular in the first-team squad.
Tony Hibbert
Hibbert made his Everton debut at West Ham United in March 2001 and he has since made the right-back position his own. A member of the 1998 FA Youth Cup winning team, Hibbert has made almost 150 first-team appearances and he is still waiting for his first goal!
Francis Jeffers
Jeffers was just 16-years-old when he first tasted first-team action at Old Trafford against Manchester United. He quickly proved himself to be a goalscorer of genuine quality but he rocked the club when he made a big-money move to Arsenal in the summer of 2001. Neither that move, nor stints at Charlton or Rangers worked out. Jeffers is now plying his trade at Sheffield Wednesday.
Richard Dunne
Republic of Ireland international defender, Dunne became Everton's youngest-ever FA Cup player when he appeared against Swindon Town in January 1997. He was part of the 1998 FA Youth Cup-winning squad but failed to win a regular starting position in the first-team. He moved to Manchester City for three million pounds (about $6 million American) in October 2000.
Michael Ball
A boyhood Evertonian, he joined the club after spending 5 years at Liverpool. He is an excellent header of the ball – a constructive player who possesses a wide range of skills. He is also very dangerous from set pieces.
