Stockport County is said to be taking on not one, but two Everton academy graduates this summer, although the move will look different for each player involved.
Both fullback Roman Dixon and midfielder Tyler Onyango are reportedly joining the League One side this summer, but while Onyango is supposedly going as a permanent transfer, Everton have seen enough of Dixon to want to keep him with the club, so he'll only go on loan to the Hatters.
Dixon will turn 21 at the end of this year and has already made his senior debut for the Toffees, starting and playing a full 90 minutes in Everton's 4-0 loss to Tottenham on Matchweek 2 of this past season.
The right back has been at Everton since joining at the U-12 level, and has played for the U21 squad in the Premier League 2 over the last several seasons, albeit sparingly.
But with Everton not having a long-term answer at right back, it's possible the club sees something in the England youth international that it wants to see if he can harness with more pitch time, even if it does come at a lower level.
It's possible that Dixon gets the Harrison Armstrong treatment, where he goes off on loan this year and returns next summer with a chance to compete for the starting role on the senior team.
As for Onyango, his main issues have been both inconsistency and the lack of a true position. He's a tall, lanky kid (6'3", 165), which, in some respects would make him a potential centerback as opposed to a defensive midfielder. But the transition hasn't happened, so, having just turned 22, he'll get the chance to see if he can make the move in a lower league and rebuild his value.
He's been at Everton since he was 8 years old, so it's also possible that a change of scenery could unlock something for him. Onyango will also need to get stronger if centerback is his future position.
Onyango has also already made his senior debut, coming on as a substitute in a 3-0 loss to Manchester City in November 2021. But ultimately, the decision to sell him while opting to keep Dixon on the books tells you everything you need to know about the player from Everton's perspective.