Kenyan prospect signs Everton scholarship, earns U18 promotion
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 16.07.26. | 12:01
The defensive midfielder is among 11 academy players who have been awarded scholarship contracts after impressing through Everton's youth ranks
Kenyan prospect Rodney Aduda has taken another significant step in his football journey after signing a scholarship deal with Premier League side Everton, and earning promotion to the club's Under-18 squad ahead of the 2026/27 season.
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The defensive midfielder is among 11 academy players who have been awarded scholarship contracts after impressing through Everton's youth ranks.
The club confirmed the new intake as preparations for the new campaign gather pace.
Aduda joined Everton's academy in 2024 and quickly established himself as one of the promising talents in the youth setup.
His performances for the Under-16 side earned him promotion to the Under-18 team during the 2025/26 season, where he went on to make seven appearances.
The scholarship marks another important milestone in the youngster's development and underlines Everton's confidence in his potential.
It also places him on a pathway that could eventually lead to the club's under-21 side and, ultimately, the senior team if he continues his progress.
The new group of scholars has already begun pre-season under newly appointed Under-18 head coach Matthew Taylor, who takes charge of the academy side ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
Everton legend Leighton Baines, who previously coached the club's under-18s before joining David Moyes' first-team coaching staff, welcomed the new scholars and encouraged them to embrace the opportunity as they continue their development.
Aduda also joins a growing list of players with Kenyan heritage to progress through Everton's academy.
He follows English-born midfielder Tyler Onyango, who has previously expressed his desire to represent Harambee Stars at the senior international level, and forward Ray Robert.
His latest achievement comes just a week after another Kenyan-born youngster, Emmanuel Ziro, signed a scholarship contract with Manchester United