Everton have been slapped with an academy recruitment ban.

The Goodison Park club have been found guilty of breaking Premier League rules over their pursuit of a schoolboy who was playing for Cardiff City in 2016.

Everton have also been fined £500,000 by the Premier League following the inquiry, which found they had offered incentives to the youngster and his family.

The ban will prevent Everton from registering players aged between 10 and 18, who have been registered at another Premier League or EFL club.

An Everton statement read: "We are extremely disappointed with some of the practices we have found which are not in line with our values and not acceptable to Everton.

"We have accepted the penalties imposed on us by the Premier League and have given them our strongest apologies.

"We have already commenced a full review of our Academy operations and are committed to ensuring that issues like this do not happen again."

The youngster in question has since moved to Manchester United.