Everton have handed midfielder Melvin Matos his first professional contract, tying him to the club until the end of June 2028.
The 17-year-old signed for Everton in 2024, arriving from Bedford, and wasted little time making an impression at Under-18s level.
He made 15 league appearances in his debut season and scored his first goal for the club in a 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers in April 2025. He has since progressed into the club’s Under-21s setup.
Matos models his game on N’Golo Kante and Claude Makelele, and cites his energy and ball-winning as his main strengths — attributes that have caught the eye of Everton’s academy staff as he’s moved up through the age groups.
The deal is confirmation that the club continues to back its Under-18s pipeline, with Matos the latest academy graduate to be handed a senior deal after progressing through the ranks at Finch Farm.
Everton’s Under-21s squad has been building depth this season, and Matos now joins that group with a long-term contract in place.
It’s a low-key but significant marker for a player Everton clearly see a future in, even if first-team involvement remains some way off.
Expect more detail on his pathway — loan interest, Under-21s minutes — to firm up over the coming months.
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