Grealish helps Everton youngster mark senior debut with late goal

Jack Grealish provided the assist for 16-year-old Jonathan Nsangou as Everton’s highly-rated academy youngster marked his first senior appearance with a goal against Blackburn Rovers.

Everton drew 3-3 with the Championship side in Friday’s behind-closed-doors friendly at the Hill Dickinson, with further details now emerging about a game arranged to keep David Moyes’ remaining players sharp during the international break.

Nsangou’s late equaliser was perhaps the most eye-catching moment of the afternoon.

Grealish provides assist for Nsangou

Everton had led 2-0 at half-time after Charly Alcaraz converted an early penalty before crossing for Thierno Barry to score from close range.

Mark Travers also saved a Blackburn penalty between Everton’s two first-half goals, but the visitors responded quickly after the restart and eventually moved 3-2 ahead from another spot-kick with three minutes remaining.

That left Grealish and Nsangou to provide the final contribution.

Grealish played the teenager through and Nsangou kept his composure to score the equaliser, completing a memorable afternoon in which the forward was reportedly given 45 minutes by Moyes.

Academy forward Jonathan Nsangou on target in today's behind-closed-doors game at Hill Dickinson Stadium. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/reLUsWuk1w

— Everton (@Everton) October 2, 2026

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It was Nsangou’s first involvement at senior level. Afterwards, the youngster posted a picture of himself alongside Grealish on Instagram and thanked the England international for providing the assist.

The moment adds another layer to Friday’s 3-3 draw, which gave Moyes an opportunity to involve several academy players while 11 members of his squad were reported to be away on international duty.

Joshua van Schoor, John Dodds, Ezra Carrington, Harvey Foster and Melvin Matos were among the youngsters handed minutes.

There is little value in reading too much into the result of a behind-closed-doors friendly, particularly with Everton missing so many senior players.

For Nsangou, though, there was something rather more tangible to take from it: first senior minutes, a first senior goal and an assist from Jack Grealish to go with them.

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