Everton lose star as Aston Villa poach Jake Doughty, puzzling Moyes

Everton lose 16‑year‑old left‑footed winger Jake Doughty to Aston Villa, where he will join the club’s U18 squad as a first‑year scholar after a breakthrough season that yielded seven goals in 15 Premier League North appearances for the Toffees’ academy. Aston Villa did Moyes get this wrong?

A bright prospect leaves Everton

Doughty’s breakout campaign at Finch Farm saw him score seven goals in 15 league matches and add another goal in three cup outings, finishing with seven goals from 18 appearances overall. He netted a brace against Manchester City in May, contributing to a 5‑3 victory for Everton’s U18 side. The left‑footed attacker has also represented England at under‑16 level, underscoring his standing among the nation’s youth.

His contributions helped Everton’s U18 team finish fourth in the Premier League North last season, a respectable position that highlighted the impact of his goal‑scoring from the flank. The club’s academy staff had hoped to convert that promise into a professional contract before other clubs intervened.

Villa’s youth‑first recruitment policy

Aston Villa have secured Doughty as a first‑year scholar, meaning he will train with their U18 squad while the club pays youth development compensation rather than a traditional transfer fee. This arrangement reflects Villa’s focus on nurturing talent rather than spending on established players.

The move follows Villa’s recent acquisitions of Fletcher Boyd from Aberdeen in September 2025 and Brian Madjo from Metz in January 2026, both of whom arrived after senior‑level experience and illustrate the club’s strategy of bolstering its academy pipeline.

Implications for Moyes and the Toffees

Everton operate with a small senior squad, making the progression of academy graduates a vital component of their long‑term plan. Losing Doughty before he could sign a professional deal deprives the club of a home‑grown attacking option.

The Toffees will receive the agreed compensation, but the departure raises questions about David Moyes’s ability to retain the club’s brightest prospects. The episode underscores the pressure on Moyes to protect Everton’s developmental pipeline.