---
title: "Everton Confident of Retaining Thierry Small"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/everton-confident-of-keeping-thierry-small-transfer-interest/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Jones"
section: "Everton News"
published: "2020-12-16T09:00:00Z"
modified: "2020-12-16T09:00:00Z"
---

# Everton Confident of Retaining Thierry Small

Having seen him [linked](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-transfer-news-thierry-small-19453080) with European giants such as Juventus, Bayern Munich and Arsenal, Everton under-23s manager David Unsworth has expressed his confidence that the Toffees can fend off interest for youngster [Thierry Small](https://readeverton.com/2020/11/26/everton-face-fight-to-keep-thierry-small-transfer-interest/).

At just 16 years old, the youngster was [recently drafted](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-transfer-news-thierry-small-19453080) into Carlo Ancelotti’s first team plans following a [long-term injury](https://readeverton.com/2020/11/27/everton-fans-react-lucas-digne-ankle-injury/) to regular left-back [Lucas Digne](https://readeverton.com/2020/11/27/everton-fans-react-lucas-digne-ankle-injury/).

Unsworth has told Small he can become a Premier League footballer at Everton, despite having only just made his [full under-23s debut](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/thierry-small/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/746554/verein/9261) last month in a 1-1 draw with Blackburn.

The 47-year-old was keen to defend the internal prospects of Small as he spoke to the [Liverpool Echo](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-transfer-news-thierry-small-19453080) over the youngster’s future, saying:

> “The one thing that we can give Thierry is a clear pathway. He only has to look at Niels Nkounkou. He spent a week with the u-23s \[after signing in the summer\] and then he was in the first-team squad.

> “There’s always a clear pathway at Everton for all the youngsters so he’s in no better place to have a career as a Premier League footballer.”

Small has been with the Toffees since he was 11 years old, when he joined from West Bromwich Albion.

According to the [Liverpool Echo,](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-transfer-news-thierry-small-19453080) it is believed that team-mates of Small in the under-23 setup have been privately impressed by his raw talent and potential.

### Read Everton Verdict

Retaining the services of Small could be vital to the long-term future of the Toffees.

He clearly possesses enormous potential and has been [regarded](https://readeverton.com/2020/11/26/everton-face-fight-to-keep-thierry-small-transfer-interest/) as one of the world’s best young players in the world at his age group; while to have the likes of Juventus and Bayern showing an interest illustrates how highly he is coveted.