Everton close in on deal for Dundee United teenager Hutchinson | OneFootball

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Everton are reportedly set to sign Dundee United teenager Kai Hutchison after he rejected the offer of a professional contract with the club.

Various outlets north of the border have confirmed that Hutchinson is set to sign a three-year deal at Hill Dickinson Stadium, having informed Dundee United of his intention to take the next step of his development at Everton.

The 16-year-old has trained with the Scottish Premiership side's first team this season, but Dundee United have been unable to convince him to sign a new contract.

The Tangerines are in talks with Everton over a fee, though are powerless to prevent his exit given he is yet to sign a professional deal. However, Dundee United will be entitled to a training compensation fee, decided via a tribunal, if the two clubs cannot agree a figure. Dundee United have previously rejected seven-figure offers from English sides for Hutchinson.

A powerful forward, Hutchinson caught the eye of suitors after scoring twice for Scotland's u-16 side, including a stunning left-footed strike from distance, in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Spain in late 2025.

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Clive Rogers 1 Posted 14/06/2026 at 15:22:22

Although youngsters always have a long way to go when 16 years of age, this sounds like a signing of a special talent.

Best of luck to him and hope he comes good.

It's hard to know what to think about this.

Yea, it's good that we're scouting out and (possibly) picking up good young talent. But one article mentions three such recent acquisitions: John Dodds, Reuben Gokah, and of course the only one to shine so far, Braiden Graham.

By any measure, they are miles off the first team. Dodds I can't figure out at all as he does not appear to have played a single game for the U18s. Signed as a 16-year-old last summer for the Academy and he has not played a single game yet???

Apparently, after moving from Hearts' academy to Everton in the summer of 2025 as a first-year scholar, Dodds suffered a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in just his second game. (These must have both been pre-season friendlies, largely undocumented.) The injury required immediate surgery and sidelined the highly-rated Scottish centre-back for the entirety of his first campaign on Merseyside.

Despite this rotten luck, in January 2026, when he turned 17, Everton secured Dodds's future by signing him to his first professional contract — a 2½-year deal that runs through June 2028.

Gokah has done a bit better, and Graham is of course a star who has not been given a chance with the first team. The chances of progressing from the Academy seem to get more and more remote with every passing season.

Paul Kossoff 5 Posted 14/06/2026 at 17:23:07

Why? Moyes won't ever play him, so what's the point? We aren't a big enough club to collect young players, play them a few times, then sell them for £20 million as the other lot do or Chelsea or Manchester City.

We need established pros. This one will leave in 3 years for nowt.

Jack Convery 7 Posted 14/06/2026 at 17:44:15

Seeing as it's EFC the panel will decide on £5m compensation plus another £20m in addons.

Si Cooper 8 Posted 15/06/2026 at 01:47:20

Can't possibly be any harm in continuing to have the occasional attempt at picking up a promising youngster before they are on every rivals radar.

Surely no-one thinks a signing such as this could seriously impact the contemporaneous reinforcing of the first team squad?

Malcolm Kitchen 9 Posted 15/06/2026 at 02:47:50

This lad sounds good, I sincerely hope he gets a chance in time in the 1st team. Hopefully Moyes will have gone by then, I will get my magic book out to ensure he does leave asap. For the good of Everton football club. Moyes is past his sell by date, too set in his ways and makes some baffling team selections, bye just fkn go! 🫢😠

Steve Brown 10 Posted 15/06/2026 at 06:37:24

Don’t do it kid, it will be career death.