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As we revealed last week, Luke Garbutt has committed his long-term future to Everton by signing a new contract at Goodison Park.
The 22-year-old left-back has agreed a new five-year deal, pledging himself to the Club until the end of the 2019/20 season.
Garbutt, a product of the Everton Academy, made his Premier League debut for the Club as a 20-year-old at Southampton in the 2013/14 season, replacing Leighton Baines and describing the experience as “a dream come true … I can’t really put it into words”.
He continued his career progression during the 2014/15 season, making 10 more first-team appearances including four in the Premier League, and a sense of genuine belonging and real ambition underpinned his decision to stay at Goodison.
“It’s an honour to commit my long-term future to Everton,” Garbutt said.
“I’ve been made to feel very welcome at the Club since I signed my scholarship six years ago.
“Over the years, I have grown to have an affinity with the Club and I feel a sense of belonging here.
“Under the Manager, the future looks bright and positive and I want to be a part of that. It is a great Club to be a part of and the staff and supporters have been great with me from day one.
“Last season was great for me in continuing my development, my personal highlight being the Europa League adventure as I gained a lot of experience in those games playing against top quality opposition.
“Everything we went through last season and the experience we gained as a group will only make us stronger as a team ahead of the new season.
“And with all the young players we’ve got such as Rom, Ross and Stonesy – all of them key players, too, the future of the Club couldn’t be more promising.
“If we can continue to build the team, then we can go on and achieve special things together, every one of us as players will have no doubts about that.”
Garbutt joined Everton from Leeds United in July 2009, originally on scholarship terms before penning his first professional deal a year later.
Having made his first Premier League appearance for Everton at Southampton in April 2014, Garbutt performed strongly in the UEFA Europa League 2-0 victory at Wolfsburg last season, the first of five appearances he made in the competition.
He also played in the home leg against Krasnodar, in both legs against BSC Young Boys and in the 2-1 win over Dynamo Kyiv at Goodison.
Garbutt has played international youth football for England from Under-16 through to Under-21 level.
He was one of four Evertonians to feature at the Under-20 World Cup in the summer of 2013 and also featured for England Under-21s at the European Championships this summer.
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