Promising teenager Luke Garbutt has signed a three-year professional contract with Everton.
Toffees youngster signs three-year deal
Promising teenager Luke Garbutt has signed a three-year professional contract with Everton.
The ex-Leeds United youngster joined the Toffees in July 2009 and has now committed himself to the club until 2013.
Harrogate-born Garbutt initially signed on a two-year scholarship, which has now been replaced by a professional deal.
Last season he made 17 Premier Youth League appearances and five FA Youth Cup appearances, before stepping up to Everton's reserve team set-up in the spring, notching up a further five outings for the Toffees' second string.
Garbutt is delighted to have finalised his future and is of the firm belief that he will can make the grade in the Premier League.
Surreal
"It's quite surreal really," the youngster told the club's
official website. "Hopefully this season I can kick on with this new contract and keep progressing.
"At the end of the day I believe that I'm good enough to play in the Premier League one day. This for me is a great opportunity and it's a stepping stone to keep improving as a player and hopefully make my debut at some point.
"International honours were the main thing for me last season, and the reserve team," he continued. "Last year I played quite well towards the end of the season.
"Winning the Under-17 European Championships was probably the biggest highlight of the year, so I was quite pleased towards the end of the season really.
"You don't get that every day at that age! So, for me to kick on it is a good experience for me to have in the memory book so hopefully that can pay off with my club form as well."
