Toffees deal wrapped up

A MIRFIELD teenager could be set to realise the dream of every schoolboy in the country and follow in the footsteps of world class footballers such as Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard after signing a contract with Premiership club Everton.

St John Fisher Catholic High School pupil George Green has been attracting interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including German giants Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur and Scottish champions Glasgow Rangers but Everton beat off the competition to capture the 15-year-old’s signature.

George, who started playing for Thornhill at the age of seven, has been at Bradford City’s Centre of Excellence and the Bantams look set to receive a transfer fee in the region of £300,000, which could rise to as much as £2m, depending on his appearances with Everton’s first team and potential international games.

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George, from Greenside, Mirfield, who is studying for a sport and leisure diploma – the equivalent of six GCSEs – will now complete his schooling on Merseyside before officially joining Everton in the summer.

Until recently, George had still been playing for the school team and scored a hat-trick in a recent English Schools Cup match.

Head of PE at St John Fisher Andy Graham said: “Everyone at the school is proud of George and wish him all the best for the future in what we hope will be a long and successful career.”

Bradford City head of football development Archie Christie added: “This is one of the highest deals ever for a 15-year-old from a League Two club but George is the best I’ve seen in his position at his age. He could become the next Wayne Rooney or Paul Gascoigne.”

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