Price is Right for a former Everton Academy star's homecoming? | OneFootball

The Rumour Mill

Isaac Price taking on Coventry City in the Championship

(Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)

A familiar face from the Everton Academy conveyor belt is being linked with a return to  Finch Farm as the Blues look to inject some much-needed energy into the engine room this summer.

The One That Got Away?

Issac Price was a fixture at Finch Farm from the age of 7, rising through the ranks under the mentorship of Leighton Baines and David Unsworth. He was even fast-tracked to the senior squad by Carlo Ancelotti, making his debut as a late sub against Boreham Wood right at the end of the FA Cup 5th Round tie back in March 2022.

However, despite being highly rated by the academy staff — Unsworth once described him as a "box-to-box midfielder with a bit of everything" — Price grew frustrated by the lack of a clear pathway to the first team.

With his contract winding down in the summer of 2023, and after impressing in a Sydney Super Cup cameo against Celtic, Price opted to gamble on himself. He rejected Everton’s contract offers to join Standard Liège for a development fee of just £400k, a move that left many Evertonians wondering if the club had let another gem slip through their fingers for a pittance.

Price's More Recent Exploits

After a productive spell in Belgium, Price was snapped up by West Bromwich Albion for an undisclosed fee in January 2025, where he has become the undisputed heartbeat of the Baggies' midfield. This season, he has been a revelation in the Championship, with his "technical recital" and "never-ending energy" making him indispensable for both club and country.

The stats tell the story of a player who has finally found his feet:

The Dubious Link

The "Rumour Mill" wouldn't be complete without the financial gymnastics. SportsBoom claims West Brom have slapped a €20M to €25M (£17M-£21M) price tag on the youngster, despite his market value sitting closer to €10M

With Price under contract until 2029 and earning a modest £12k a week, the Baggies are playing hardball. Everton are reportedly preparing a "homecoming" themed offer, but they face stiff competition from Fulham, who are said to be readying a £10M bid.

It would be peak Everton to sell a homegrown prospect for £400k only to buy him back 2 years later for £20M. However, there’s no denying the midfield lacks the dynamism Price now offers.

Whether The Friedkin Group is willing to pay the "Academy Tax" to rectify a past mistake remains to be seen. At 22, Price fits the profile of the "young and hungry" player the club supposedly craves — but can we afford the price of our own mistakes?

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Mike Gaynes 2 Posted 07/05/2026 at 15:16:12

TFG has spent the last 18 months spending a great deal of money to rectify the blunders of our previous ownership. I don't figure they'd hesitate now if they felt it was the right move. And it wouldn't seem likely that Price would hold grudges.

John Collins 3 Posted 07/05/2026 at 15:20:07

Mike,

Did you see the Friedkins Out banner at Roma game?

Mike Gaynes 4 Posted 07/05/2026 at 15:40:30

Yep, John, the Roma Ultras hate Friedkin because he sacked club legend De Rossi as manager just a few months after hiring him.

De Rossi demanded Friedkin fire the club CEO, and Friedkin chose her. The Ultras threatened her life and her children, and she quit and fled Italy. Ugly rift that seems unlikely to heal.

On the other hand, I doubt he cares what the Ultras think.

Ian Bennett 6 Posted 07/05/2026 at 16:29:35

He has looked good when I've seen him. A big lad who can score and use his size from a No 10 position.

A touch of Fellani about him. West Brom will cash in as they need the money.

Tony Abrahams 7 Posted 07/05/2026 at 17:39:12

I think there is more to the story than that Mike, especially because that happened quite a while ago. I saw a text, that explained why people didn’t like the silent one’s, and it resonated because it could have been written by certain Evertonians, that have the same thoughts.

Fair play to Price, for leaving Everton, and then kicking on, but when a club spends years developing a player and then watch him leave because he’s not quite ready for the first team, but has outgrown the under 21’s, it must leave them frustrated and makes me think about having a couple of feeder clubs, might just be the way forward because not that many kids are ready for premier league football, on a regular basis nowadays until they physically develop

Mike Doyle 8 Posted 07/05/2026 at 17:53:59

Wouldn’t be the first time we have re-signed players we released / they chose to leave as yougsters. The obvious ones being Baines & Jagielka.

Mike Allison 9 Posted 07/05/2026 at 18:29:17

Central midfield is about the one area we don’t need to strengthen.

His strengths seem similar to what Röhl offers, and on principle I wouldn’t spend money to bring him back unless it was an absolute guarantee of significantly improving the ‘first XI’. It isn’t.

Tony Abrahams 10 Posted 07/05/2026 at 21:18:39

I’m sure both Jagielka and Baines, were both released as kids, Mike, whereas I think Price chose to leave Everton, to further his career, when he couldn’t make the breakthrough?

Jay Lewis 11 Posted 07/05/2026 at 23:01:28

Alan @1 Eric Dier was another

Brendan McLaughlin 12 Posted 07/05/2026 at 23:20:14

Messi... Ronaldo...June Abrahams

Could have been Everton legends... well one is for me!

Eric Myles 13 Posted 07/05/2026 at 00:53:02

The article is a bit disingenous making out that the Club made a mistake. The kid rejected an offer and decided to leave. It was all down to him.

Paul Hewitt 14 Posted 08/05/2026 at 06:59:33

Not a position we need to strengthen in my opinion.

Dean Johnson 15 Posted 08/05/2026 at 07:24:09

Moyes out, clearly his fault

Eric Myles 16 Posted 08/05/2026 at 07:27:55

It always is Dean #15. Always is.

Tony Abrahams 17 Posted 08/05/2026 at 07:43:50

Not one person has blamed Moyes, but then the people who defend him make a joke about our manager, getting the blame for everything. Modern life in a nutshell.

Derek Thomas 18 Posted 08/05/2026 at 08:16:51

Forget our Academy. Say he started at Accrington Stanley or where ever and think more - is he now a player worth buying.

If so, what's the problem?