Everton youngster Francis Okoronkwo has signed a new deal at Goodison Park to pledge his long-term future to the club

The online UK news outlet, reporting on 8 November, shared that a number of clubs were understood to be monitoring his contract situation at the club, hoping to prise him away with just under a year left on his deal.

However, the Toffees have moved quickly to tie him down to a new deal with an announcement expected this month with this news coming as a huge boost to everyone around Finch Farm.

 so it’s great to see that Everton have moved to tie him down to a long-term contract at the club.

Okoronkwo is yet to make a senior appearance for Everton in competitive football but he was with the first-team squad that went on tour to Evian in the summer and has also been with them on matchday.

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The 19-year-old is said to be highly-regarded within the walls of Finch Farm so the Toffees have certainly made a great statement convincing him to prolong his stay at Goodison Park.

Now the next step is whether the club will be willing to send him out on loan in January or grant him the experience training with the first-team setup but still starring for the reserves.

The former seems the more smart pathway for Okoronkwo as he can learn his trade at a club tailor-made for his style and development given he is certainly at the age to make his mark at a Championship club.

The Athletic reported on 28 October that the youngster could be loaned out to a EFL club and that certainly seems like smart business as Everton need to show that they will make his development one of their priorities.