Everton director of football Kevin Thelwell has spoken out following the release of several young players, including midfielder Lewis Warrington, as confirmed on the club’s official website.
It was reported on evertonfc.com [4 June] that U21 midfielder Warrington – who made his Premier League bow in the club’s final game of the season against Sheffield United – would be among six young professionals to depart.
Mackenzie Hunt, Katia Kouyate, Kyle John, Ed Jones and Dylan Graham will also leave the club when their current contracts expire at the end of this month, alongside U18 youngsters Sebastian Jensen and Danny Maher, and first-team players Andre Gomes and Andy Lonergan.
Thelwell said: “We thank all the players leaving the club this summer for their commitment and hard work throughout their time in our Academy.
“The likes of Lewis and Mackenzie got to train regularly with our Men’s Senior Team this season, with Lewis being handed his Premier League debut in our final home game against Sheffield United.
“All of the players can be proud of their Everton journeys and we wish them the best for the future.”
Lewis Warrington’s time has come to leave Everton
For a local lad who joined the Toffees aged just six, Lewis Warrington will be in the midst of an emotional few weeks, his last as an Everton player.
The midfielder is likely to have known, however, that the writing was on the wall given he turns 23 in four months and is no longer eligible for Under-21 football.
Having said that, he will command plenty of interest with considerable league experience under his belt for his age – having previously branched out on loan to Tranmere Rovers, Fleetwood Town and Plymouth Argyle, moving up a division each time and making 71 professional appearances.
Adding his brief cameo against Sheffield United into the mix puts Premier League football on his CV – however quickly it came and went – which sets up the Wirral-born starlet for a solid career.
It was rather fitting in the end, too, that he finished Everton’s season on the pitch after 16 years at the club, replacing a fellow departing midfielder, the decorated and experienced Gomes.
In other Everton news, Steve Bruce has had his say after Jarrad Branthwaite’s England bow.
