- Braiden Graham has been Everton’s standout academy star this season.
- Striker has bagged over 20 goals and appears to be ready for the step up.
- May not make debut this season, but has been spotted in first-team training.
Braiden Graham has led by example for Everton U21s, and is making a statement that he is ready to jump up to senior football.
The Northern Irishman has actually made his senior debut for his former side Linfield, where he became the youngest player to play for the side at 15 years and 137 days.
But since signing for the Toffees in 2024, he has become a key figure for their U21s team and has found red-hot form this season.
Graham recently bagged four goals in an 8-4 victory over Ipswich Town, and pending Everton’s situation, he could claim a first-team debut before the season is over.
Braiden Graham was pictured training with the Everton first-team
In a post from Everton Academy’s X account, the young striker was spotted in first-team training and having a conversation with club captain Seamus Coleman.
Everton face Manchester City in their next Premier League encounter as they look to avoid three successive defeats in the league.
Meanwhile, the U21s’ next match is against Brentford at Walton Hall Park in the Professional Development League play-offs.
Graham will look to add to his magnificent tally of 21 goals and three assists from this season.
Where next for Braiden Graham?
After such a successful season at youth level, the Northern Irishman will be eager for a new challenge, and he will want to test his skills in senior football.
Moyes has made his stance on young players quite clear, with the likes of Adam Aznou and Tyler Dibling struggling to gain any first-team action, even though millions were spent on the pair.
It is due to this that if Graham is to gain any further experience at senior level, then a loan move to a team in the lower divisions will probably be his next step.
But this does not mean he will not get an opportunity with Moyes’ side before the end of this season, and should the Blues find themselves in a comfortable position, or with little to play for, a first-team debut could be handed out to the 18-year-old.
Graham has an exciting future ahead of him, and while it would be easy to think that he can just be thrown into first-team action, caution must be taken so his development is not overcooked.
