Demi Akarakiri was offered a new contract by Everton but has instead signed for Serie A side Cagliari
Demi Akarakiri has left Everton to move to Italy
Demi Akarakiri has left Everton to move to Italy(Image: Emma Simpson/Everton FC/SmartFrame)
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The agent of Demi Akarakiri has opened up on his client's decision to leave Everton.
The 18-year-old impressed for the club's under-18s and under-21s teams last season and was regarded as one of the Academy's top prospects.
To that end Everton were keen to keep Akarakiri and offered him a new contract. However, the teenager rejected their advances and instead has signed for Serie A side Cagliari.
And now his agent, Samuele Mura, has explained their decision-making.
Mura said: “He made a name for himself at Everton last year; despite being an Under-18 player, he featured for and made his mark in the Under-21s, and this has attracted the interest of many clubs.
“The Premier League is a highly coveted league; traditionally, the movement was the other way round. Today, however, there are many English players who are drawn to the Italian league.
“The decision to bring him to Cagliari stems from the desire to see Demi ready for Serie A and the first team.
“His attributes are particularly well-suited to the Premier League, but there are few players like him in Serie A. Seeking to capitalise on these attributes in Serie A is a key objective in continuing his development.”
Akarikiri rose through the Arsenal youth ranks before moving to the Blues in 2024.
He was part of a promising batch of under-18s at Everton last season and took his chance for the Under-21s in competitions such as the Premier League International Cup.
After confirming his arrival, Cagliari called Akarikiri “one of the most exciting prospects of his generation”.
And Mura continued: “He was supposed to stay at Everton, who had offered him a professional contract.
“We’d been in talks with him for four or five months. Having worked with Italian clubs and seen their interest, we acted immediately to seize this opportunity, given the deadlock with the English club.
“Football is great because there are different approaches. Cagliari have a clear vision, and the environment could be important for Demi. He wants to push himself further and aim for a place in the first team.”