---
title: "Virals: Journalist confirms Everton deal for young talent"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/virals-journalist-confirms-everton-deal-for-young-talent/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Jones"
section: "Everton News"
published: "2021-09-21T05:04:00Z"
modified: "2021-09-21T05:04:00Z"
---

# Virals: Journalist confirms Everton deal for young talent

[Everton](https://readeverton.com/2021/09/18/virals-fan-debates-everton-fan-mood-after-ancelotti-exit/) have signed a 17-year-old striker from Sunderland for a seven-figure sum, with Everton correspondent Patrick Boyland of The Athletic confirming the news.

A previous update last week claimed that the Toffees had signed the teenage talent in a deal that could be worth up to £1 million, according to Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope via his [personal Twitter profile](https://twitter.com/CraigHope_DM/status/1437414144337190913) last Monday \[13/09/21\].

> Hope had claimed: “This deal is now done. Francis Okoronkwo has joined Everton from Sunderland in a move worth up to £1million.”

The club has since completed a deal, with Boyland offering evidence via his [personal Twitter profile](https://twitter.com/Paddy_Boyland/status/1439936626570977280?s=20) on Monday afternoon \[20/09/21\].

Boyland attached a photo of the 17-year-old signing from Sunderland at the training ground.

> “Everton have officially unveiled new signing Francis Okoronwko who has joined from Sunderland,” he said, before adding that the “highly-rated teenage forward will join academy ranks.”

### Read Everton Verdict

Given the hefty cost shelled out by the Toffees for the young striker, the club clearly retains a strong amount of faith in the belief that he could develop into an accomplished young talent.

The teenage talent is a formidable presence up front, standing at 6ft3, and he could operate in a target man role for the club.

At youth level, he could emulate the lone striker role of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Salomon Rondon.

He impressed for Sunderland Under-18s last season and it stands to reason that his featuring at a similar level will continue.

Given his age and the update from Boyland, it is probable that he will link up with David Unsworth’s under-23s squad or the under-18s following previous experience at that level.

Okoronkwo[made 17 appearances](https://www.goodisonnews.com/2021/09/13/everton-sign-francis-okoronkwo-in-deal-worth-up-to-1million/) in the Under-18 Premier League, scoring three goals and supplying three assists.

Notably, he also scored and registered an assist in Sunderland’s dramatic 4-3 win over the Toffees in May.