Everton's search for a new striker has turned in-house to 19-year-old talent Braiden Graham after a quiet summer transfer window. With Thierno Barry as the only senior forward and Beto allowed to leave, Graham is emerging as a potential alternative for manager David Moyes.
The club, currently seventh in the Premier League with nine points from five games, did not recruit a forward in the summer. This has left supporters frustrated and the squad reliant on Barry, who scored the winner against Ipswich Town last month. Graham has been a regular in matchday squads, including for that 1-0 victory, but is yet to make his senior debut. Everton's recent form has seen them take seven points from their last three matches, a run that has eased the immediate pressure to sign a forward. The club's solid start, built on a defence conceding just three goals, means there is less urgency to rush a young player into the Premier League fray.
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has publicly praised the young forward's abilities. "Braiden's a very talented player; a very technical player; a great finisher," O'Neill said. The international boss confirmed Everton have tracked Graham's progress since he was 14 or 15 years old. Although the teenager is yet to earn his first senior cap, he was included in the Northern Ireland squad for their recent 0-0 draw with Hungary. O'Neill has been clear that Graham's primary goal for this season should be to accumulate meaningful minutes for Everton, a target that aligns with the club's current situation.
David Moyes has so far preferred his established players, but Graham's best opportunity for minutes may arrive in the third round of the FA Cup later this season. With no new signings expected before the New Year unless the club turns to the free-agent market, the domestic cup presents a clear pathway. The saga surrounding a move for Folarin Balogun also ended without the striker joining Everton, further highlighting the reliance on internal options. Moyes has acknowledged the squad's need for more goals, with the team having scored only six in the league so far, a statistic that shows the potential opening for a natural finisher like Graham.
Graham's development and the club's full squad list are detailed on our squad page. His chance to prove O'Neill right could come in the cup competitions before the January window offers another chance to strengthen.
This story first appeared at The Boot Room
