Everton have clinched the signing of Irish teenager Karl Sheppherd.
He is a regular for the Republic of Ireland under 16 side and has been tracked by Everton's scouts for 18 months having trained at the Academy last year.
Everton beat several Premier League sides to capture Sheppard, who was delighted to sign on for the Blues.
"Clubs were coming in but Everton was the team for me. It's a really nice club to be at," he told evertonTV. "For the first year my ambition is to break into the under 18s side and then within a year and a half try and get into the reserves."
The youngster is confident his ability will show through once he settles on Merseyside.
"Settling in England will be hard but once I get going I will be grand," he said.
"Pace would be one of the best things about my game, that and finishing."