Joshua Stephenson, a teenage player for Millwall, has been linked to Everton.
Joshua Stephenson of Millwall has surfaced as an intriguing Everton transfer target, but what is known about the 18-year-old prospect thus far?
According to Football Insider, Premier League rivals Brentford and recently promoted Southampton are also keeping a close eye on the young player. Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion, who recently signed Blues target Yankuba Minteh from Newcastle United for £30 million, are reportedly interested in a deal for the young player. Although he has not yet made his senior debut, Millwall regards Stephenson highly and he has shown himself to be a flexible option for the club’s younger teams.
He might now go up to the Premier League after being awarded the team’s 2023–24 Academy Player of the Season. According to sources cited in the story, Millwall is now up against it in their attempt to retain onto the young phenom, who can play both midfield and defense.
Last season, when the south London team advanced to the FA Youth Cup semifinals, Stephenson was a constant presence for the Lions, playing every minute of the campaign. In the third round, Millwall defeated Barking 5-3 after extra time. In the fourth round, Millwall defeated Grimsby Town 4-1, and in the fifth round, when Stephenson was chosen captain, they defeated Coventry City 3-0.
After a 1-1 draw, Stephenson’s winning penalty kick helped Millwall win 5-3 on penalties, and he kept his armband for the quarterfinal derby match against Chelsea. The Yorkshire team won 4-3, despite the fact that he also guided them to the semi-final at Leeds United, where he scored in the 54th minute to tie the score.
Using the Professional Development League South, Stephenson played in 13 games for the Millwall Under-21s previous season. According to Comparisonator, he averaged 55.07 defensive actions per 90 minutes, which placed him third out of 60 players. Along with these accomplishments, he placed in the top 10 for assists (0.09), ball recoveries (12.82), ball loses in his own half (seventh on 3), successful crucial passes (fourth on 0.27), and shooting assists (fourth on 0.45).
While he remains very much a prospect for the future, Everton could use some fresh blood in terms of young talent, since manager Sean Dyche acknowledged earlier this year that, in regards to their current academy prospects, “there is no one I have looked at and thought: ‘You are ready to jump in.'”
However, Stephenson might be worth a try. After all, Jarrad Branthwaite of Carlisle United, the last teenage defender Everton selected from the lower levels, proved to be a very wise acquisition.
