Newcastle United sign 16-year-old Everton defender as summer recruitment drive continues

Newcastle United have signed 16-year-old centre-back Aaron Epia from Everton as the club looks to take their youth setup to the next level.

This is according to youth football talent spotter The Secret Scout who specialises in finding and promoting young football prospects.

Epia has represented Poland at youth level but is eligible to play for England and Nigeria.

At 16, Epia could link up with the Magpies under-18s squad as early as next season.

According to Transfermarkt, Epia has been involved with the club since April, where he featured in a 1-0 defeat to Wolves and a 2-1 win against Leeds in the U18 Premier League.

Image: Blackburn Rovers

Epia isn't the first youth player to join Newcastle this year.

Newcastle are overseeing a new era of youth prospects arriving at the club. This year alone, the Magpies have signed Alfie Harrison, 14-year-old CJ Afumuzor and now Epia.

Newcastle are reportedly interested in several youth players from Championship clubs.

One player the Magpies have had a long-term interest in is Blackburn Rovers' Rory Finneran.

The 16-year-old made his debut in Rovers' FA Cup win against Cambridge United in January.

Middlesborough prospect Ajay Matthews is set to leave the club this summer. According to The Secret Scout Newcastle has had discussions and is hopeful of signing the 18-year-old who scored 16 goals in 17 starts for the Boro youth side.

Several youth players have been released from Newcastle amid a youth recruitment drive.

The Magpies recently announced that a number of players are to leave the club upon the expiry of their contracts.

Players like Lucas De Bolle, Amadou Diallo and Michael Ndiweni have left.

The Magpies could also see another young prospect leave this summer for a sizeable fee. Yankuba Minteh has expressed his desire to join Everton this summer in a deal that could be worth up to £40million.

Minteh hasn't been short of interest across Europe with the likes of Liverpool, Lyon and Borussia Dortmund also interested in bringing in the Gambian international.