Everton goalkeeper Joe Hilton has become the latest young gun at the club to agree the terms of a new contract, it has been confirmed.
The Merseyside club announced on their official Twitter account on Monday afternoon that the 18-year-old has signed a new one-year deal.
?? | Fresh from his first pre-season camp with the senior squad, teenager Joe Hilton has signed a new one-year deal with the Club.
Congratulations, Joe! ?
? https://t.co/axhCHoTJ2j #EFC pic.twitter.com/n3yPW3cKj6
— Everton (@Everton) July 16, 2018
Hilton has spent the last two weeks training with the Everton senior squad at their pre-season camp in Austria as Marco Silva had a look at his new charges in detail for the first time.
OPINION
Everton have been busy tying their rising stars to new deals over the last few weeks, with Hilton the latest to sign an extension and commit to the club for the upcoming campaign. Standing at 6ft 5in (source: Transfermarkt), he has a formidable physique for his age and has the frame to stand head and shoulders over his opponents at Under-23s level. Can he go on to challenge Jordan Pickford for the number one spot at Goodison? The ex-Manchester City youth has some way to go yet, and needs to cut his teeth against his peers at youth-team level. Moreover, Pickford showed with his outstanding performances for England at the World Cup that extreme height is not vital to being a top-class keeper. Hilton could learn much from studying footage of Pickford’s aggressive positioning and decisive decision-making. Like most top number ones, his reflexes are excellent and he pulls off wonder saves. But Pickford stands out because he is always on the front foot. Hilton must make it his mission to learn from the main man.