Another key Finch Farm figure to leave Everton as departure explained

Another key Finch Farm figure to leave Everton as departure explained

James Vaughan, a key appointment within director of football Kevin Thelwell's operation at Finch Farm, is set to leave Everton

Nigel Adkins, then the technical director of Tranmere Rovers, speaks with James Vaughan, then loans pathway manager of Everton during the pre-season friendly between the clubs in 2023. Vaughan later became head of academy recruitment and player pathways at the Blues (Image: Matt McNulty/Getty Images )

James Vaughan is set to leave his role at Everton. The former striker, who launched his professional career at the club after rising through the Blues’ academy, has been working behind the scenes at Finch Farm for two-and-a-half years.

He started as loans pathways manager before, in March of last year, taking on the title of head of academy recruitment and player pathways . That job saw him tasked with spotting stars of the future and trying to bring them to Merseyside.

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The 36-year-old is now set to depart in order to pursue a new opportunity - the decision being an amicable one and not part of any wider reshaping of the club.

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Academy director Gareth Prosser said: “James has decided to take up an opportunity elsewhere and will leave Everton later this month. On behalf of everyone at the club, I’d like to thank James for his service and wish him all the best for the future.”

Vaughan’s exit is the latest major change in the football operation at Everton following the takeover by The Friedkin Group, which was completed in December. He has been a key part of the structure built by director of football Kevin Thelwell in his three years working from the club’s Halewood training complex.

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Thelwell is due to leave in the summer as part of work to reshape the way the club operates, with the Blues set to move away from the director of football model. A team-based approach is set to be implemented with manager David Moyes holding influence along with incoming CEO Angus Kinnear and other strategic appointments who are yet to be formalised.

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While Vaughan was a significant figure in Thelwell’s unit, the catalyst for his departure is the opportunity he has been given rather than the revamp being put in motion at the club.

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Vaughan made 60 first-team appearances for Everton, including becoming the club's youngest goalscorer at 16 years and 270 days, before going on to enjoy a career that took him to clubs including Huddersfield Town, Birmingham City and Sunderland.

He retired from playing in May 2021 and arrived at Everton after a stint as sporting director at another of his former clubs, Tranmere Rovers.

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