Everton Lose 16-Year-Old Winger To Aston Villa: Did Moyes Get This Wrong?

Everton Lose 16-Year-Old Winger To Aston Villa: Did Moyes Get This Wrong? Everton have lost one of their brightest academy prospects, with 16-year-old winger Jake Doughty completing a move to Aston Villa after a breakthrough season at Finch Farm. Villa have taken Doughty as a first-year scholar, with the teenager set to join their U18 squad. He played regularly in the U18 Premier League last season, where his finishing caught attention. Doughty scored seven goals in 15 league appearances, while he finished the campaign with seven goals from 18 appearances. His tally included a brace against Manchester City in May, when Everton claimed a 5-3 victory. The left-footed attacker has represented England at U16 level, adding another marker of his standing among the country’s young players. His record suggests Villa haven’t recruited for numbers; they have picked up a teenager who already produced consistently against older academy opposition. Because Doughty had not signed professional terms with Everton, Villa will pay youth development compensation rather than a conventional transfer fee. That detail makes the deal frustrating for Everton, given the winger’s output and international pedigree. What does Jake Doughty’s exit mean for Everton? LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Carlos Alcaraz of Everton celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Hill Dickinson Stadium on September 16, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) For David Moyes and his academy staff, losing Doughty raises an awkward question about how quickly the club can secure their best young players. Everton’s U18 side finished fourth in the U18 Premier League North last season, and Doughty’s contribution formed a useful part of that campaign. The timing adds another factor. Everton already operate with a small senior squad, so academy progression carries value rather than serving as a distant recruitment project. A player who can score seven league goals at 16 naturally attracts attention, especially when he can operate from the flank and threaten from his stronger left foot. Villa have made youth recruitment a part of their strategy. Fletcher Boyd arrived from Aberdeen in September 2025 after making senior appearances for the Scottish club, while Brian Madjo joined from Metz in January 2026 after making his Ligue 1 debut. Doughty now enters that group, with Villa offering another academy environment and a route into their senior structure. For Everton, the concern isn’t simply losing one teenager. It is losing a productive homegrown player before the club could place a professional contract in front of him. Seven goals from 15 league games gave Doughty evidence to build on. Everton now have to accept compensation and watch Villa take the next swing with a player they had already developed.