Exclusive: Everton Youngster Ryan Ledson on His Future, England and Staying Blue

It is “Inside Everton Week” all this week on Bleacher Report, and Tuesday sees attention switch to the club’s famous academy. We spoke to 17-year-old academy product Ryan Ledson, who joined the club as a five-year-old and made his debut for the club in December.

Click here for our video interview with Under-21 manager David Unsworth, as he discusses the pressures and pride that comes with his important role.

FINCH FARM, Halewood—Barely 17 years of age, Everton Under-21 player Ryan Ledson has already achieved things most boys, and many grown men, can only dream about.

Last summer, as captain of his country, Ledson led England to victory at the European Under-17 Championships—scoring the first penalty as the Three Lions actually managed to win a shootout in a competitive final.

A part of Everton’s youth setup from the age of five, Ledson then made his debut for the first team in December, playing against Kuban Krasnodar in the Europa League to become the tenth youngest player ever to start a game for the club (between Wayne Rooney and Ross Barkley, to give you an idea of the company he is keeping).

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Made up to have made my @Everton debut last night. Dream come true! Thanks for all the messages 👍 pic.twitter.com/Ioo4yZQ9tt

— Ryan Ledson (@RyanLedson97) December 12, 2014"

“Being here since I was five and to make my debut was unbelievable, especially for a club like Everton,” Ledson tells Bleacher Report, his face lighting up. “I think the fans like the local lads better.

"It was brilliant; being a Scouser, and going to the games all the time, and then getting onto the pitch … you just want more of it.”

An all-round midfielder who is comfortable on the ball yet also distinctly unafraid to put his foot in for a tackle, there are clearly high hopes for Ledson around the club’s Finch Farm training centre. First-team manager Roberto Martinez studies all the development side’s games closely, offering advice and encouragement at key moments—and his track record of promoting youth has Ledson and his callow teammates knowing they will be rewarded with opportunities if they continue to work hard every day.

“The gaffer, he gives the young lad a chance—he did it at Wigan and he has definitely done it here up until now,” Ledson notes. “That’s what he wants, he wants us progressing, and maybe a few of us get brought up to the first-team.”

Ledson’s drive is evident, with his leadership on the pitch a big part of England’s summer success in Malta. A UEFA.com article following that tournament win suggested Ledson described himself as “leader, legend, Scouser” although he insists he was stitched up.

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Austria 👍 pic.twitter.com/IdVey6lfQK

— Ryan Ledson (@RyanLedson97) July 9, 2014"

“I didn’t know what to say, so he said to put that!” Ledson jokes. “I think the Scouser bit, yeah [that’s true], but I wouldn’t say the legend bit. Not yet anyway!”

“Ryan’s already had a taster,” David Unsworth, Eveton’s Under-21 manager, said. “He’s still young, he’s England captain, he’s very mature for his age and has come a long way in a very short space of time.

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For those who missed it earlier, here's THAT free-kick from @England U18s captain @RyanLedson97 against Poland https://t.co/UCSKQ7GjGL

— Gary Stonehouse (@garystonehouse) November 17, 2014"

“But … it’s only the start. There’s no point making your debut if you don’t play again, he has to kick on and really get that desire to want to play 100 games for Everton, 500 games for Everton and become an Everton legend.”

So, does Ledson have that desire? Where does he seem himself in five years?

“Right here,” he says, without hesitation. “Staying here, and in the first team.”

Click the video above to watch the full interview with Ryan Ledson, as he discusses that penalty for England, his progression through the Everton system and his ambitions for the future.