Everton have confirmed the departure of academy winger Jake Doughty to Aston Villa, with the 16-year-old joining their Premier League rivals' youth setup. The move, completed in August, sees Everton receive a youth development compensation fee as Doughty had not signed a professional contract on Merseyside.
Doughty, who represented England at Under-16 level, will link up with Aston Villa's Under-18s squad as a first-year scholar. The wide attacking player scored seven goals in 15 appearances for Everton's Under-18 Premier League side last season. Aston Villa's academy manager Mark Harrison confirmed the signing.
This transfer is part of broader changes within Everton's youth development structure. The club has seen several coaching staff departures and appointments in recent months. Former Under-18s manager Keith Southern left in the summer of 2025 and has since taken up a role as Under-21 lead coach at Fleetwood Town, where he is joined by Alan Moogan as head of coach development. At Everton, Spencer Myers has stepped into the role of youth development phase lead.
Another notable academy departure this summer was that of 24-year-old Hayden Hackney, who moved to Middlesbrough. Hackney stated he had settled in well at Everton and aimed to gradually work his way into the first-team picture before his exit. These moves come as Everton's senior side enjoys a strong start to the Premier League season, sitting seventh in the table with nine points from five unbeaten games.
The women's team secured an important 2-1 victory over Birmingham City at Goodison Park on Sunday, with defender Ruby Mace scoring both goals. The win was marred, however, by a serious knee injury to 20-year-old Zara Kramzar, who sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the 31st minute. Kramzar will now begin her rehabilitation under the care of Everton's medical team.
Everton's focus now returns to the Premier League, where they are on a two-game winning run following victories over Wolves and Ipswich Town. The next challenge is an away trip to face Hull City, who are currently one place below them in eighth, on October 11. The club's positive league form, which includes a 1-0 win over Ipswich courtesy of a Thierno Barry goal, provides a stable backdrop amidst these academy transitions. Supporters can view the full squad details and injury updates on our squad and injuries pages. Jake Doughty's management agency, SMI World, shared congratulations for his move on social media earlier this month.
This story first appeared at ECHO
