Left-Back Signs First Professional Everton Contract

Left-back Josh van Schoor has signed his first professional contract with Everton, putting pen-to-paper on a two-year contract until the end of June 2027. A versatile defender who has also played on the wing in recent months, van Schoor has been with the Club’s Academy since the age of 10, having joined from Wigan Athletic. Making 53 appearances for the Under-18s over the course of his scholarship, van Schoor stepped up last season to be part of Paul Tait’s Under-21s, playing five of the final eight league games last term and earning his Premier League 2 debut alongside fellow youngsters Braiden Graham and Francis Gomez in a 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. Van Schoor also started the quarter-final and semi-final wins over Widnes and Warrington Rylands as the Under-21s lifted the Liverpool County FA Senior Cup for the first time in nine years. “It’s a really special moment for me and my family,” van Schoor told evertonfc.com. “It’s something you work towards your whole life, and as a little lad you dream about it, so to sign is a very proud moment. “When you’re working hard towards things, and then again over the past few years when you’re so close, to finally achieve it is a very good moment. “Last season was good, I think I really found a good bit of form and captained the side a few times as well, which was really good for me. “We had a change of coach from Leighton [Baines] to Keith [Southern] when Leighton went up to the first team, but it all carried on smoothly and on the whole it was a good season personally. “As a team we all got on quite well, both in the changing room and on the pitch, and we had a very positive season. “Trying your hardest to get in the first team is always the aim – and to see how you can develop – but it’s just about getting better as a player and doing as much as possible myself to give myself the best opportunity to play first-team football.” Van Schoor’s professional contract means he joins fellow defenders George Finney, Aled Thomas and Luca Davis, midfielder Harvey Foster and striker Ceiran Loney in signing a first pro deal with Everton.