Everton are facing yet another frustrating academy blow, with Premier League rivals Aston Villa closing in on a deal to sign 16-year-old winger Jake Doughty.

According to reports from The Athletic, negotiations between the two clubs are into their final stages as Villa work to wrap up an agreement for the highly-rated England youth international.

Doughty, who only turned 16 in February, enjoyed an eye-catching campaign in Leighton Baines’s U18 side throughout the 2025-26 season. Despite his youth, the wide man featured 18 times across all competitions — scoring 7 goals in the U18 Premier League and making appearances in the FA Youth Cup.

Because Doughty has not yet signed a professional contract with Everton, they are unable to command a standard transfer fee. Instead, the transfer will be settled via a youth development compensation structure, allowing Villa to secure one of Finch Farm’s top prospects for a fraction of his potential future value.

The move highlights an ongoing and painful vulnerability for Everton’s youth setup. While the Blues continue to offer elite coaching, well-funded academy powerhouses like Villa — flush with European football ambitions and massive infrastructure investment — remain capable of turning the heads of the country’s bright young talents before they ever step foot onto the pitch for the first team.

While the final details of the deal are still being ironed out, Villa remain firmly in the driving seat to complete the signing shortly, leaving Everton to reflect on the loss of another promising home-grown talent.

 

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 Posted
22/08/2026 at
23:59:39

Ungrateful little twat. Look forward to never hearing about him again.

 Posted
23/08/2026 at
01:15:13

That’s a weird thing to say about a child Paul Kossoff. There will be many considerations for agents, the clubs, his parents and current and prospective coach, etc. Might this sort of off hand comment cause kids like these mental health problems.

 Posted
23/08/2026 at
03:03:31

Anyone between 16 and early 20’s is by definition naive in making decisions.

This boy will now have all sorts of alleged know-alls advising him to their, and not necessarily his, advantage. but then one or two of those various voices might just be to his advantage as an imminent pro-footballer.

Who knows? ‘Tis the throw-away nature of professional football to hundreds of might-have-beens each week/month/season.

 Posted
23/08/2026 at
03:04:01

Mental health problems seriously? He’s an ungrateful little twat and I hope he reads this on his way to villa.

 Posted
23/08/2026 at
03:14:17

“Ungrateful little twat”???

I can’t wait to hear what the yahoo at #4 thinks this kid owes Everton.

He joined Everton a year ago. One year. (Per Transfermarkt.)

Has every right to change clubs.

And zero obligations to Everton.

And the aforementioned yahoo hopes this boy reads his online abuse.

Did somebody mention mental health?

 Posted
23/08/2026 at
06:28:30

Where is the lad from, a local or the Midlands? And where was he before if he’s only been at Everton for a year?

There’s more than football reasons for wanting to move.

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