Team-mates have flooded Isaac Price’s social media with good luck messages after the teenager posted a thank you message to Everton.
Price is set to leave the club he joined at the age of seven, with Belgian side Standard Liege his next destination. Everton had sought to retain the midfielder but were unable to agree a new deal with the starlet, who is keen to test himself at first-team level.
The 19-year-old announced his departure on Instagram, thanking the club and its fans for the support he has received and describing it as “an honour” to have grown up at the Blues. His message prompted the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Nathan Patterson to respond with supportive posts.
Price was viewed as a player with potential at Finch Farm and was exposed to the first team last season by Frank Lampard - the former manager handing him his senior debut in the FA Cup against Boreham Wood and then his first Premier League appearance at Arsenal on the final day of the 2021/22 season. He was one of several academy players to impress within the Under-21s during the first half of this season and crowned his rise with two impressive performances against Celtic and Western Sydney Wanderers during the club’s involvement in the Sydney Super Cup.
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International duty and injuries opened the door to Price on that trip, which took place during the World Cup, and his performances led to Lampard hailing him as the club’s player of the tour. Price was then handed another first-team appearance as a substitute in the second half of the home defeat to Brighton in January.
While Everton attempted to reach a new deal with the teenager his desire for more senior experience led him to seek a new opportunity and Liege emerged as a favoured destination from a host of suitors, with Rangers and Celtic among those that looked into his situation.
Ahead of his move, Price wrote: “I want to take this opportunity to give my thanks to everyone who has supported me throughout my time at Everton FC - my team-mates, the staff and most importantly you the supporters. It has been an honour to grow up at this club, the passion you give for this team and this city is something that will stay with me forever. I will never forget the incredible memories and experiences I have had here. Thank you again for everything.”
His post was well-received, including by team-mates from within the Blues setup. Calvert-Lewin responded: “Good luck skinny man, hopefully they have a gym over there.” Patterson simply said “good luck bro” while Alex Iwobi added: “Justin Bieber, legend.” Under-21s team-mates including Tom Cannon, Stanley Mills and Reece Welch also wished Price the best, as did ex-senior players like Tim Cahill and Yannick Bolasie.
Price’s 12-year association with Everton will formally end when his contract expires this summer. Before pre-season preparations begin with his new club, he will feature with the Northern Ireland senior team after being selected for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Denmark and Kazakhstan.
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