United's star youngster to sign for Everton
Kai Hutchinson, 16, is the latest Academy talent to be poached by an English club.
Dundee United’s star youngster Kai Hutchinson is set to join Everton after turning down a senior deal at Tannadice.
Despite the 16-year-old being offered professional contract, Hutchinson has told the club that he intends to continue his development at the Toffees’ academy.
United have been keen to keep Hutchinson, inviting him to train and travel with the first team in recent months and regularly fielding him in their SPFL Trust Trophy side in an attempt to keep him at Tannadice.
However, their efforts were not enough to stop the teenager having his head turned by opportunities south of the Border.
According to the Daily Record, he is now set to sign a three-year deal with Everton.
The clubs are yet to agree a fee, with United having turned down six figures for the youngster in the past.
Since Brexit restricted UK club’s ability to shop for players across the EU, English Premier League and Championship clubs have been increasingly turning to Scotland to search for young talent.
Hutchinson is the fifth Dundee United youngster to leave the club for an offer down South — although the moves hasn’t always paid off in the long term.
At the end of this season, two former Dundee United starlets were released by their English clubs.
Kerr Smith and Brandon Forbes are now free agents after being freed by Aston Villa and Norwich City respectively.
Smith joined Villa in 2022 for a free worth up to £2million to United, initially joining up with their U23 side.
The now 21-year-old did not make a senior appearance for Villa, instead being loaned out to St Johnstone and Barrow.
Meanwhile Forbes captured the attention of Norwich City after a successful season with United’s U18s and scoring on his debut appearance for the first team — a blistering free kick in a 2-1 League Cup victory against Ayr United in 2024.
Forbes was also immediately signed up for the Canaries, however he did not make a senior appearance for the club before becoming a free agent this summer.