Everton midfielder Rhys Hughes claimed the Keith Tamlin Award at the annual Academy Awards evening this week.
The award - named after the club’s vice-life president and celebrates a player for their “excellence, attitude and application” during their time in the academy – counts Tom Davies and Beni Baningime among its former recipients.
Hughes, 18, was handed a three-year contract in January after impressing in the under-18 set-up this season.
Lewis Dobbin was named u-18 player of the season at the ceremony, hosted remotely, after hitting 11 goals in 16 league matches under Paul Tait and making his u-23 debut.
Goalkeeper Harry Tyrer received the Tony Heslop Award - recognising a player who 'represents The People’s Club with distinction and passion' - while Bobby Carroll won goal of the season after capping a 25-pass move against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Everton director of football Marcel Brands, who selected the strike as winner, said: “It was 25 passes without any contact from the opponent. They were defending with 11 players behind the ball and still the u-18s were able to score this fantastic goal.
“It was such a special goal because all the players were involved.”
