Does Everton run academy trials?
Finch Farm · Halewood, Merseyside
No open trials. Everton's academy has spent the last three years rebuilding after a two-year recruitment ban in 2018 and a period of tight budgets, and its stated strategy is to win Merseyside by scouting locally and looking at players the bigger-spending clubs overlook. The club has also put scouts in London, Ireland and Scotland. One thing parents should know: Everton ran a hybrid training model for a period, which under the rules meant it could not recruit nationally from age 14 like full-time Category 1 academies. A July 2026 restructure under a new technical director may change that.
4 ways players actually get in.
Invitation after scouting, then a trial period with the age group at Finch Farm.
- 01Scouted at grassroots on Merseyside
Everton's head of recruitment has said the local network is the priority and that the club is built on local players. Scouts cover junior leagues across Merseyside and the wider North West.
Official page ↗ - 02Scouted outside the region
A London scouting team including a dedicated south London scout, plus embedded scouts in Ireland and Scotland. Relevant for older age groups where the travel rule allows.
- 03Everton in the Community coaching
The club's charity runs soccer schools and coaching across Merseyside. Coaches can flag players to the academy. It is community coaching, not a development centre with a published tier structure.
Official page ↗ - 04Coach referral with a fixture list
Grassroots coaches can put players forward to academy recruitment. A scout attends a normal fixture before any approach to the family.
- Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton, Wirral
- Wider North West
- London, Ireland and Scotland for older age groups
- EPPP limit: 1 hour travel U9 to U11, 90 minutes U12 to U16
- Ask about the training model for your child's age group. Hybrid means fewer contact hours and no national recruitment at 14. Full-time means the opposite.
- Ask what the personalised development plan looks like. Everton has said it offers bespoke plans rather than blank cheques.
- Check the travel rule to Halewood. One hour at U9 to U11.
- With a new technical director and head of recruitment in 2026, ask who will actually coach your child's age group this season.
WSL academy, PGA Category 1.
Girls' academies are licensed by the FA, not the Premier League. How the girls' pathway works.
Everton Women's academy holds a Category 1 licence with U21s in the Northern Division. Merseyside ETCs and grassroots scouting feed it; the club publishes no open girls' trials.
Three things parents get sold.
- i, Inside Everton's academy, Nov 2024 ↗
- Liverpool Echo, Everton search for head of academy recruitment, Apr 2025 ↗
- Royal Blue Mersey, Major Everton Academy overhaul announced, Jul 2026 ↗
- Premier League Youth Development Rules (travel limits, registration) ↗
Last verified 6 September 2026. Spotted a change? Tell us and we will re-check within a week.