Jonathan Nsangou overlay with a picture of Wayne Rooney's back
Jonathan Nsangou overlay with a picture of Wayne Rooney's back
Everton’s behind-closed-doors friendly against Blackburn Rovers was a chance for David Moyes to keep his senior players sharp during the international break – but it could ultimately be remembered as the start of something special for academy starlet Jonathan Nsangou.
The 16-year-old got 45 minutes with the senior side at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and marked the occasion by scoring Everton’s late equaliser in a 3-3 draw.
Jack Grealish made the assist, playing Nsangou through before the youngster kept his composure to score his first goal in his first involvement at senior level.
For a first-year scholar who only turned 16 in January, it’s another important step for Nsangou who is quickly making waves with his development.
After the game, Nsangou posted a picture alongside Grealish on Instagram and thanked the England international for the assist. Days earlier, Everton had uploaded a video clip of Grealish greeting the young players called into first-team training, including Nsangou. One would imagine Grealish will be an important figure for the talented teen.
But one goal in a behind-closed-doors friendly isn’t the reason Everton supporters should be paying attention. Everyone just needs to look at what Nsangou has been doing over a longer period to realise how exciting he could be.
Jonathan Nsangou is progressing rapidly at Everton
Nsangou broke into Everton’s U18 team last season and got nine goal contributions across 20 league appearances. Everton promoted him above his age group and handed him his U21 debut while he was still only 15.
That actually made Nsangou the first player born in 2010 to represent Everton’s U21 side. He’s also represented Poland at U15 level before subsequently playing for England’s U16s.
Everton officially list Nsangou as a forward, but that really doesn’t tell the entire story with him. The teenager has described his mentality as ‘very attack-minded’, with scoring and creating goals big parts of his game – and his performances this season support that.
Nsangou has scored four league goals for Everton’s U18s, with three of those coming in the form of a first-half hat-trick in the 5-0 win over Reading in the U18 Premier League Cup.
Nsangou isn’t simply producing spectacular individual goals, the variety of his finishing is fast becoming one of the most exciting things about him. One performance in particular gives us a better idea of the type of footballer Everton might actually have on their hands.
Jonathan Nsangou’s goals offer clues about his Everton future
Nsangou scored twice as Everton’s U18s beat Wolves 4-0 in September – and both are certainly worth watching.
The first goal really shows Nsangou’s ability outside the penalty area. He picks up the ball in the inside-right channel around 20 yards from goal, turns and curls a left-footed finish into the far corner.
His second shows something different. Everton regain possession in Wolves’ own half and Nsangou spins away from his opponent before carrying the ball towards goal, firing low into the far corner.
Nsangou doesn’t appear to be a young striker who simply wants to occupy the penalty area and wait for opportunities. He wants the ball. He comes towards possession, turns, carries the ball towards defenders and is more than willing to shoot from distance.
There is further evidence of that in his goals against Leeds United earlier in the campaign. One was an audacious lob from around 25 yards. Another was curled into the top corner from distance. Along with his finishes against Reading and Wolves, it’s clear that Everton have a young forward capable of scoring in several different ways – and that leads to an inevitable comparison.
Jonathan Nsangou has similarities to a young Wayne Rooney
Comparing any 16-year-old Everton academy prospect with Wayne Rooney is a slightly dangerous game. Rooney was an extraordinary exception and a generational talent. He was already scoring Premier League goals for Everton at 16 and went on to become Manchester United and England’s record goalscorer during his career.
Nsangou is nowhere near that stage and what 16-year-old is? He shouldn’t be burdened with any expectations of becoming ‘the next Rooney’.
But looking into his game, it’s hard to ignore certain similarities.
Like the young Rooney, he doesn’t necessarily want to remain alongside the opposition’s centre-backs. Nsangou will come towards the ball, get possession between the lines and then turn towards goal. And there is also a real confidence in his shooting.
The Wolves brace showed a teenager prepared to attempt finishes from positions where plenty of young players would look for another pass.
That doesn’t make him the next Rooney but comparisons between the two are more than simply connecting two talented Everton academy players.
There is another important difference between Nsangou and a traditional No.9. He can operate across several attacking positions.
The Guardian selected Nsangou as Everton’s representative in its Next Generation 2026 list this week and highlighted his ability to play different attacking roles, his technique and his two-footedness. Those traits potentially give Moyes several routes through which to introduce him to senior football.
David Moyes is already getting a closer look at Nsangou
The most significant development might actually have happened before the Blackburn friendly. With Everton’s squad depleted by international call-ups, Nsangou was among the academy players promoted into senior training at Finch Farm. Everton quickly published footage of him finishing impressively during the session.
Moyes then gave Nsangou 45 minutes against Blackburn, and he scored.
There is clearly a huge difference between doing that in a friendly and being trusted in the Premier League but he is impressing at every opportunity given to him.
U18s football
U21s football (at 15)
Senior training (at 16)
Senior friendly appearance
Senior friendly goal
He is working through the ranks at Everton at lightning speed.
How close is Jonathan Nsangou to Everton’s first team?
This is where perspective is required. Nsangou shouldn’t suddenly become a regular member of Moyes’ matchday squad just because he scored against Blackburn.
His next major challenge is probably establishing himself consistently at U21 level. The physical, tactical and technical jump from academy football into the Premier League is enormous.
Everton have no reason to rush him. But it is becoming clearer that Nsangou is ahead of the normal development curve. His U21 debut came at 15. He has produced consistently at U18 level, trained with Moyes’ senior players and then scored when handed his first 45 minutes alongside them. National recognition has also followed.
Regular U21 football would represent another important step. If Nsangou continues shining there, involvement in senior cup squads and further training opportunities will be more realistic.
Everton supporters have seen enough academy prospects emerge to know that development isn’t often linear. For every Rooney there are lots of talented teenagers who need considerably longer to make the transition, while others never quite manage it.
That’s why comparisons with one of Everton’s greatest-ever academy graduates need a bit of balance.
The combination of his goals, versatility, confidence from distance, progression above his age group and increasing exposure to Moyes’ senior squad suggests they may have something considerably more interesting than your usual academy prospect.
At 16, nobody can sensibly predict how far Jonathan Nsangou will go but there will be more and more eyes on him as we find out.