The agent of Demi Akarakiri has explained why the 18-year-old prospect left Everton to join Serie A side Cagliari, despite being offered a new contract by the Premier League club.
Akarakiri's rise at Everton
Akarakiri impressed for Everton's under-18s and under-21s last season and was regarded as one of the Academy's top prospects. He rose through the Arsenal youth ranks before moving to Everton in 2024 and featured in competitions such as the Premier League International Cup for the under-21s.
Agent's explanation
Agent Samuele Mura said: “He made a name for himself at Everton last year; despite being an Under-18 player, he featured for and made his mark in the Under-21s, and this has attracted the interest of many clubs.
“The Premier League is a highly coveted league; traditionally, the movement was the other way round. Today, however, there are many English players who are drawn to the Italian league.
“The decision to bring him to Cagliari stems from the desire to see Demi ready for Serie A and the first team.
“His attributes are particularly well-suited to the Premier League, but there are few players like him in Serie A. Seeking to capitalise on these attributes in Serie A is a key objective in continuing his development.”
Contract talks and move
Mura added: “He was supposed to stay at Everton, who had offered him a professional contract. We’d been in talks with him for four or five months. Having worked with Italian clubs and seen their interest, we acted immediately to seize this opportunity, given the deadlock with the English club.
“Football is great because there are different approaches. Cagliari have a clear vision, and the environment could be important for Demi. He wants to push himself further and aim for a place in the first team.”
After confirming his arrival, Cagliari called Akarakiri “one of the most exciting prospects of his generation”.
