The 18-year-old Australian defender Con Ouzounidis has signed his first professional contract with Everton. He has been part of their youth system and slowly graduated towards the reserve squad. The defender has surely been doing things right as he has impressed the managerial hierarchy for which they have rewarded him with a new professional contract.
The Australian is yet to represent his country but is touted to be the next big thing to come out of Australian football. Everton have a bit of history with Australian player as Socceroos’ greatest player Tim Cahill was part of the Toffees side for close to 8 years.
Everton are looking for a new beginning under Marco Silva and the upcoming season will be a crucial one as it will decide whether they are really good enough to challenge the big boys of the Premier League. Ever since Farhad Moshiri has taken over the club, the Blues have made some huge investments in terms of acquiring players, however, it didn’t pay off last season as they finished 8th after hovering around the relegation zone for some period.
Keeping a good pool of players at the youth level is always helpful for the squad and Con Ouzounidis will have to bide his time in the youth and reserve squad before he comes anywhere close to the first-team. Everton have offered him a new contract keeping the future in mind and it is in no way expected that the youngster will break into the first team straight away.
Last season he had made 23 appearances in total for the youth and reserve side. He even managed to get on the scoresheet twice in Premier League 2 in just six games. The defender still needs to put in the hard yards in the training ground to be ready for the challenges of one of the toughest leagues in the world.
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Marco Silva is inheriting an ageing defence as Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka are way past their prime. Ramiro Funes Mori has left the club to join Villareal and Ashley Williams who is 33, has expressed his frustration at the club so it is clear that the Merseyside club will bring in new centre-backs in the transfer market. Ouzounidis is not yet ready to take the mantle of the side at the back, however, he could be included on their bench and that could be a huge learning experience for the 18-year-old youngster from Australia.
