The 18-year-old has a burgeoning reputation boosted by two prolific campaigns in front of goal
Braiden Graham inspecting the pitch before the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Everton. Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images
Braiden Graham inspecting the pitch before the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Everton. Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images
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Northern Ireland are already seeking to assess whether Everton academy forward Braiden Graham can become a star of the future.
The 18-year-old received his first senior international call-up this week to end a stunning season in the Blues academy on a high. His growing reputation is such that international chiefs have him on their radar as a player who could help lead their frontline for years to come.
His involvement with the first team squad this summer means the forward, who bagged 21 goals in 31 games across the Under-18s and Under-21s this year, could end up making his senior debut for his country before stepping onto the pitch for his club’s first team.
Graham has been the subject of increasing attention as his sublime form for the U18s continued into his second season at Everton after joining from Linfield in the summer of 2024. He made an immediate impact in the U18s and ended that campaign with a promotion to the U21s - and four goals at that level against Tottenham Hotspur in Premier League 2.
That form continued into last season as he started the year as a mainstay of Paul Tait’s side despite his youth.
His record in front of goal - which at Everton has included big goals in Merseyside derbies, the U21s’ run to the knockout stages of the Premier League International Cup and when dropping down to the U18 for the prestigious FA Youth Cup - has caught the attention of Moyes.
Even before the season, he joined the first team on a training camp in Scotland and the past nine months have seen him exposed to senior training at Finch Farm.
Graham was then called back early from his Christmas holiday to join the first team squad as they travelled to Nottingham Forest just before New Year. He was an unnamed substitute in the 2-0 win and then featured on the bench for the FA Cup third round defeat to Sunderland the following month.
The progress came amid a selection crisis but was fully deserved. Yet while Moyes has been impressed with Graham’s development, he has maintained reservations about introducing him to the first team. Known as a “lethal” finisher, Graham has spent much of the season playing off the left in a position enjoyed by Iliman Ndiaye and England U21 international and Chelsea loanee Tyrique George.
Speaking about the youngster last month, Moyes did hint the club would assess whether he is ready for greater responsibility when the players return from their summer break. His record at academy level suggests he may be ready for senior football - something he experienced at just 15 at Linfield. At the very least, there is likely to be exploration of a loan move that could support his development.
He explained: “Everybody wants good young players to come through and I'm pleased that Braiden's doing well. I think he's got a bit to go before he's at our level.
“I am really pleased, and if he does that, he will get more noticed and probably get more chances of being seen in pre-season than he would do now. I think if you are introducing that level of player now, then you would be thinking, 'What are you doing that for when you think you are still fighting things?'"
Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill also stressed the importance of being patient with Graham and Arsenal youth player Ceadach O’Neill, who has also been called up for the friendlies against Guinea and France.
He said: "It's difficult to say they're ready to be senior international players. We have to be mindful of that… If I'm honest, I don't feel that they're playing the club football at a high enough level that would affect the starting 11 at this minute in time. So for me, the emphasis has to be on using some of the squad in terms of development."
He is keen to take a look at Graham ahead of pre-season, however, as he hopes to show emerging talent there is a clear pathway to the first team. His selection is high praise for a player whose main job this summer was set to be to help the U19s qualify for their age group’s European Championships.
Graham’s reputation in front of goal has certainly reached O’Neill. “I think both players have goals in them, there's no doubt about that,” he said this week. He continued: “I think it's an opportunity for me to get to see them first-hand, as opposed to watching videos of them playing in the 21s, getting reports from the various coaches.
"You get a feel for a player when you get the chance to work with them on the training ground and you see them first-hand.
“I think it’s to show them that the pathway for them is very clear. We hope to see them progress with their clubs and establish themselves and come through and be part of the international team in the not-too-distant future.”
Graham’s selection is within an already young squad as O’Neill and Northern Ireland look to the long-term. The short-term consequence could be an Everton starlet making an impression against one of the favourites for the World Cup, just as the Blues look to assess their forward line.