Everton have signed teenage French defender Niels Nkounkou on a free transfer from Olympique Marseille.
Nkounkou, 19, is a left-back, who can also play in midfield, and moves to Goodison Park on a three-year deal. He had spent two years at Marseille, but turned down the offer of a new contract from the Ligue 1 side.
While he is expected to train with Carlo Ancelotti’s first team, it is likely that he will feature first for David Unsworth’s Under-23s squad.
Nkounkou has represented France Under-19s on two occasions and sees senior France international Lucas Digne as Everton’s current left-back.
“Niels is a young, talented player with good technical and physical skills,” said director of football, Marcel Brands. “We have been following him for months.
“Hopefully he can learn a lot from Lucas Digne and Leighton Baines, as well as Carlo Ancelotti and David Unsworth, and follow the same pathway into the first team the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Mason Holgate have taken in recent years.”
Everton have also offered a new one-year deal to veteran Baines, 35, although he has yet to indicate whether he will commit his future to them.
Ancelotti has shown he is willing to give youth a chance with homegrown teenager
Anthony Gordon providing an assist for Richarlison in Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Leicester City.
Gordon, 19, has started both Everton’s home matches since lockdown and Ancelotti said: “It’s important for him to show quality and to be confident in play. Sometimes youngsters are worried, Anthony has a personality and he did well in these games.”
The deal for Nkounkou would continue a busy few days for Everton’s youth set-up after promising defender Con Ouzounidis, 20, signed a new one-year deal.
The 6ft 4ins centre-back, an Australia youth international, has been at Everton since he was 11. He has established himself with the U23s over the past two seasons and will now look to push on.
Meanwhile, Fraser Hornby has moved to French Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims for an undisclosed fee.
Hornby, 20, made one senior appearance for Everton when he started the Europa League game at Apollon Limassol in December 2017.
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