Everton have announced midfielder Stanley Mills - the son of former Leeds United and England full-back Danny - and Reece Welch as two of 10 scholars who have been promoted to the under-18 set-up on full-time agreements this summer.
Mills joined Everton as a 14-year-old and his father revealed last year that director of football Marcel Brands keeps a keen eye on the talent coming through the ranks at Finch Farm.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to meet him several times, sit down and have a chat with him,” Mills told Football Insider.
“I'm very impressed with him, he’s across everything, I guarantee it. I’ve been down at Finch Farm where he’s been watching the under-15s, watching the under-17s, watching the under-18s.
“He’s across everything, yeah. It’s his job but as a technical director he’s looking for talent not just from abroad, from the Premier League or whatever, he’s looking within as well.”
The ECHO understands Brands has been impressed by the performances of centre-back Welch with the teenager - who models his game on Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane - having been at the club since he was eight.
Manchester-born striker Katia Kouyate is another highly-thought of by those at the academy while defender Mathew Mallon was signed at the age of four.
Thierry Small and Eli Campbell are the other defenders to be given a scholarship with the latter initially starting his career as a goalkeeper.
Mills will be joined in midfield by Luke Butterfield - who has a golf handicap of 10 - as well as Charlie Whitaker and Isaac Price.
Kouyate is the only attacker to strengthen the u-18 ranks under Paul Tait while Jak Stewart is the sole goalkeeper making the step-up.
Confirmed list of new Everton under-18 scholars:
Luke Butterfield, midfielder, Eli Campbell, defender, Katia Kouyate ,forward, Mathew Mallon, defender, Stanley Mills, midfielder, Isaac Price, midfielder, Thierry Small, defender, Jak Stewart, goalkeeper, Reece Welch, defender, Charlie Whitaker, midfielder.
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