Braiden Graham is finishing the season in stunning form for Paul Tait's Under-21s
Club captain Seamus Coleman talks to Braiden Graham during an Everton training session at Finch Farm on April 27, 2026
Club captain Seamus Coleman talks to Braiden Graham during an Everton training session at Finch Farm on April 27, 2026(Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC/SmartFrame)
View Image
Braiden Graham’s name is not just on the lips of Everton supporters desperate to see the teenager given a chance in the first team.
“We mention him every game, which is great,” Under-21s manager Paul Tait said after the young forward’s latest match-winning contribution. He added: “He is doing really well and he’s just got to keep going and working hard. He has got the quality to get his head up and pick people out, even though he likes shooting rather than picking people out once he cuts in on the right foot.”
Tait’s comments came after Graham was involved in all four goals as the U21s overcame Brentford 4-2 on Friday night. His two goals included a panenka from the penalty spot, while he provided assists for Luca Davis and Demi Akarakiri.
FOLLOW OUR EVERTON FC FACEBOOK PAGE!Latest EFC news and analysis from via the Liverpool Echo’s dedicated FB page
That contribution has only continued the stunning momentum he is ending the season with. It had already been a good first campaign with the U21s for the Northern Ireland youth international, who built on an impressive year with the U18s after being promoted up the academy ranks.
But eight goals and three assists in his past three matches have added weight to the calls of some supporters for him to be given a chance in the first team, particularly given the recent struggles of Thierno Barry in his efforts to support the in-form Beto, who is set to return against Manchester City after missing the trip to West Ham United with concussion.
Beto’s availability and that Everton are still in contention for a place in Europe look set to work against Graham’s chances of stepping up - at least unless the Blues fall away from the battle for midweek football on the continent with games remaining.
That certainly appeared to be the thought process of Moyes when he was asked about Graham’s prospects of an opportunity this season ahead of the defeat to West Ham United. He said: “Everybody wants good young players to come through and I am pleased that Braiden is doing really well. I think he has got a bit to go before he is at our level but I’m really pleased.
“If he does that he will get noticed more and get more chance of being seen around pre-season than he would do now, I think if you are introducing that level of player now you would be thinking ‘what are you doing that for when you think you are still fighting for things?’”
That Moyes has an almost full-strength squad, with Jack Grealish and Jarrad Branthwaite the two serious absences, will also work against Graham’s chances. While the Scot’s use of his wider squad has been limited in recent months, one player who has had consistent chances is Chelsea loanee Tyrique George, who has impressed Moyes from the bench in recent outings at Brentford and West Ham. Given Iliman Ndiaye typically starts on the left wing and George has ended the last three games there, that is another hurdle Graham would have to overcome - his form for the U21s this season has typically been while coming off the left.
None of that is to say Moyes is not aware of the progress of the attacker - who did play senior football at former club Linfield. Graham was called back early from his Christmas break to make the bench for the Premier League win at Nottingham Forest and was named among the substitutes days later in the FA Cup defeat against Sunderland.
He was back with the first team last week, too, training with the senior squad. He was spotted receiving advice from club captain Seamus Coleman.
It could yet be a big summer for Graham, with there being the potential for a call-up to the Northern Ireland U21s and with Moyes and Tait pointing to pre-season as his real opportunity to push for a step up as he continues his development.
Tait told the ECHO earlier this year: “The reality of it is, if he’s going to get into somebody’s first team, and certainly in our first team, it will probably be off the sides. To put a lad that age, as your main number nine, in the Premier League is as big ask – we don’t see it now do we? It’s very rare that there’s a young number nine leading the line now. Most attacking teenagers get their debuts off the sides.
“We’ve got one eye on that. But at the same time, we don’t want to take away the opportunity to play as a centre-forward, or a false nine/number 10.”
If Graham was to add his name to the board at Finch Farm that celebrates the senior debuts of academy players within this season, it would suggest Everton’s European hopes had fizzled out before the final day trip to Tottenham Hotspur - where Harrison Armstrong and Roman Dixon made their senior debuts last year. But there is hope he will get there, Tait concluding: “The reality for Braiden is that next season, hopefully he’s in and around our first team. If he impresses and has a good pre-season, it’s up to him then and he’ll probably be looking for a loan as that will be the next stage of his journey.”