Everton Under-18s defender Reuben Gokah has signed his first professional contract with the Club, penning a deal until June 2028.
An England youth international, Gokah – a talented centre-back who joined Everton last summer – turned 17 earlier this month.
He arrived on Merseyside as a first-year scholar, having progressed through the ranks at Charlton Athletic’s academy.
Looking ahead to a positive future with the Blues, Gokah told evertonfc.com: “I’m very proud to have signed this deal.
“It’s an exciting moment for me and a big achievement for both me and my family because I’ve worked very hard. I’m really happy to be able to be given this opportunity.
“It’s an exciting time to be an Everton player at the moment, so I’m really looking forward to what the future has for both me and this club.”
Making the switch to head north ahead of the 2025/26 campaign was made easier by the Everton Academy coaching staff, says Gokah, who continued: “Members of staff like Keith (Southern), Scott (Phelan), they’ve been really welcoming and they’ve really developed my football within the past few months.
“I feel like I’ve really progressed quite a lot and they’ve seen me get achievements like England call-ups, so I’ve been very happy to have these things and have these people helping me along the way.”
Gokah began the current campaign terrifically, helping Everton Under-18s to make a successful defence of the Geneva Cup during August, beating Benfica in the final just days before the Toffees’ league season kicked off.
The young defender made six appearances for England Under-17s, too, earning game time in European Championship qualifiers in October and November, as well as friendly fixtures in September.
However, Gokah – out of action since November – suffered a long-term injury setback, halting a promising opening few months with the Blues.
“Having an injury is not ideal,” he explained, “But I guess it builds character and it builds your resilience as a player.
“So, hopefully, that will make me stronger and only make me better for the future. And I’m looking forward to what I can do next season and kick on from there.
“The medical staff and teammates have been very welcoming and very supportive. It’s been tough, but at the same time, it’s been good having people around me and supporting me.”
Aiming for a successful bounce back upon his Everton return, Gokah is also targeting more chances to impress with his national side.
“It’s an amazing experience,” he added, discussing his time with England Under-17s. “I hadn’t been called up for quite a while, so to get a call-up was a proud moment for me, and representing your country is always an amazing feeling.”
