Everton Get 2-Year Academy Ban, Fine for Illegally Approaching Youth Player

Everton have been banned from signing academy players for two years and fined £500,000 after they were found to have made an illegal approach for a schoolboy who played for Cardiff City in 2016.

Per the Mirror's Liam Prenderville, the player now plies his trade for Manchester United.

The Times' Paul Joyce shared Everton's reaction to the news, as the Toffees took full responsibility and accepted the sanctions:

According to Prenderville, the probe found Everton offered incentives to the player and his family in a bid to convince him to join their academy. The ban means the Toffees can't register any players between the ages of 10 and 18 if those players were previously with another club from the Premier League or EFL.

The report also stated Everton opened their own investigation and suspended their head of recruitment, Martin Waldron. Per Joyce, the investigation uncovered six other instances where the Toffees broke the rules:

Everton's Under-23 squad currently leads the Premier League 2 standings, a competition they won in the 2016-17 campaign. The Under-18s also lead their league, sitting a single point ahead of rivals Liverpool.

The academy has long held a sterling reputation, producing talents like Wayne Rooney, Ross Barkley and Tom Davies, one of the brightest young stars of the current Toffees side.

Everton have committed to building the current squad through the youngsters, with big things expected from the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ademola Lookman, Mason Holgate and Jonjoe Kenny.

As part of that approach the Toffees need a steady influx of talent to rise to the senior side from the academy. Any type of ban presents a big blow to those plans.

Liverpool were handed a similar ban last year, per the Guardian's Andy Hunter. The second year of their ban was suspended.