Cagliari Set to Sign Everton Youngster Demi Akarakiri

Cagliari are set to complete their first signing of the summer transfer window by bringing in Everton youngster Demi Akarakiri. 

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Akarakiri is set to travel to Italy today to sign his contract at Cagliari. He looks set to leave Everton this summer.

The young midfielder was set to be out of contract this summer, and he's clearly opted against staying with the Toffees. 

Akarakiri is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in the Everton youth team, and it's a real shame and a blow for them to be losing him. Born in 2007, the young midfielder appeared regularly for the under-18s last season while also making the step up to the under-21s.

The Toffees signed Akarakiri from Arsenal back in 2024, but with his deal expiring this summer, he was free to join another club. 

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Akarakiri is clearly looking to find a club with more of a pathway to senior football. The 18-year-old has shown signs of being capable of making the step up to senior level, but he was always going to find it difficult to break into the Everton team soon. 

Everton are stacked in the midfield position at the moment and are linked with a move to sign Hayden Hackney. The 18-year-old clearly feels that he would struggle to make the step up. 

Cagliari are a side known for giving young players a chance, certainly more than Everton.  In Serie A last season, only Parma had a younger average age throughout the campaign, with Cagliari's average age being 24.7.

The Italian side had Marco Palestra and Juan Rodriguez in defence regularly last season, with both players being 21 years old. Riyad Idrissi also made 26 appearances at the age of 21, and there were a number of players in their early 20s who were given regular opportunities.

If Everton want to keep young talents at the club and attract them in the future, they are going to have to give them more opportunities at senior level. Tyler Dibling is a prime example.

The Toffees signed the youngster from Southampton last summer, but he struggled to make an impact under David Moyes.  The Dibling case is certainly not a good example for young players who want to make it at Everton, as he has not been given a fair crack of the whip since arriving at the club.