Tom Davies played his first Everton game for 1,304 days when he came on as an over-age substitute for the club's under-21s team in their 1-1 draw against their Crystal Palace counterparts in Beckenham.
Almost a decade on from his famous first senior goal, which the ECHO's Phil Kirkbride described as a "deft, exquisite, cheeky and wholly confident chip," in front of the Gwladys Street in his man-of-the-match performance as Ronald Koeman's Everton defeated Pep Guardiola's Manchester City 4-0, Davies was back in action for his ex-club as he came on as a 52nd-minute substitute for Scottish striker Ceiran Loney.
Match details and comeback
Sebastian Williams fired the Eagles in front on 63 minutes but the visitors secured a share of the spoils through Omari Benjamin's equaliser eight minutes from the end as he dinked the ball over the keeper.
Davies – who is nephew of Blues' 1970 League Championship-winner Alan Whittle – has not played a first team match since a 10-minute cameo at the end of Sheffield United's 3-3 draw against Swansea City in the Championship at Bramall Lane on April 3.
Career journey and records
The 28-year-old was released by the Blades this summer when his three-year contract expired and he continues to be supported by Everton as he looks to boost his fitness in order to secure a professional deal elsewhere.
Davies joined the Blues at the age of 11 and made his first team debut as a substitute in a 1-1 draw at home to Southampton on April 16, 2016, under Roberto Martinez. In total, the midfielder made 179 appearances for Everton, scoring seven goals, and on August 29, 2018, Marco Silva handed him the armband for the 3-1 League Cup win over Rotherham United and at the age of 20 years and 60 days, he broke Steve McMahon's record by becoming the youngest ever player to captain the side.
Emotional farewell and new venture
Davies posted an emotional message on Instagram in June 2023 after he rejected a new contract offer to remain at the Blues. He said: "Evertonians - the time has come for me to move on to a new chapter in my career. It is one I have thought long and hard about and it feels like now is the right moment for me as a player."
"I always had belief that I would play for our club but I had no idea how beautiful and fulfilling it would be! I would like to thank the club, the city and the fans for making my dreams become such a beautiful reality for me! Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey, especially the coaches, staff and players in the academy who helped me, challenged me, and developed me into the player and human I am today - for this I can't thank you all enough."
"I have had some great highs as a player and as a part of this club; scoring my first goal, becoming our youngest captain and playing in European competition. I am extremely proud of these accomplishments and with these experiences I am ready and determined to go on to achieve even more."
"I'd also like to thank Everton in the Community. It has been an honour to have been so involved with the work that you do. EitC has given me some amazing and humbling experiences during my years which I'll take with me. I plan to continue my work with you. Finally, I'd like to share that the recent times with the club have been difficult for me. I know they have been difficult for you too. I hope that they can be sorted out as soon as possible so that we can get back to the stability we deserve."
"I loved being apart of everything this club stands for. I am proud to have given all I had in every moment I could. Thank you all again…for everything. You have made a young lads dream come true! I'll see you again at Goodison because I'll always be an Evertonian!"
Away from football, Davies is the managing director of ChopValue UK, a sustainable business venture that collects used wooden restaurant chopsticks and recycles them into high-end furniture, tiles, and homeware.
