Wales Under-19 international Ryan Astley has signed his first professional contract with Everton.
The Llanfair Caereinion teenager has signed a contract which will see him stay at the club until the end of June 2021.
The 17-year-old centre-back won a scholarship and joined the Toffees back in 2017, but has been a target of Arsenal while he waited for a contract from Everton.
The former Caereinion High School pupil made his first appearance for Everton's table-topping Under-23s team in March 2018.
Astley's debut was hailed as a “stunning performance” by the Under-23s Everton manager David Unsworth.
Unsworth said: “I’m so proud of him. He made his debut (for the Under-23s) last season when he was still playing at under-16 level, which is unheard of.
”He’s come into the group, he’s playing out of position at right-back - he’s a centre-back really - and he’s been terrific. He was excellent.”
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