Bradford City have confirmed that Goodison Park side Everton have agreed a deal to sign 15 year old midfielder George Green with the clubs head of football development Archie Christie describing the youngster as the next possible Wayne Rooney or Paul Gascoigne.
Talking to the Telegraph & Argus, Christie said:
“This is one of the highest deals ever for a 15-year-old from a League Two club, but George is the best I’ve seen in his position at his age. He could become another Wayne Rooney or Paul Gascoigne.”
The deal is reported to raise to around the £2m mark after Everton initially pay Bradford City £200,000 as an upfront payment. Green had been a member of Bradford City’s U15’s center of excellence squad alongside other young talents in Jack Bentley, Jack Stockdill and Craig McCall.
George Green is the third highest youngster to be sold on by Bradford City with Dean Richards having been sold on for £2.1m when he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers, and then Andrew O’Brien for whom Bradford received close to £2m.
The deal may not sound too big for Everton fans however it should be pointed out that at least 27 clubs, including some from Germany and Scotland had made enquiries into the player. For Bradford fans it may be a disappointment to lose such an up and coming starlet however the funds received will bode well for the future of the club. As for Everton, well it seems that David Moyes has done it again and plucked a nice white rabbit out of the hat.
This website provides some great background on the youngster.