Who is Urban Negi? Nine-year-old Indian sensation signs for Everton FC Academy

Everton Academy has produced stars like Wayne Rooney and Ross Barkley

At a time when Indian football is going through a catastrophic and tumultuous phase, nine-year-old Indian sensation Urban Negi has become the most talked-about name in the window, for all the right reasons.

It has been years, if not decades, since Indian-origin players have grabbed headlines in the English top flight. But nine-year-old Urban Negi’s move to Everton Academy could probably be the next big thing.

Young Negi will train at the same Finch Farm training base where some of the biggest world-class talents, including the likes of Wayne Rooney, Ross Barkley, Leon Osman and Anthony Gordon, once entered with big dreams in their eyes.

Premier League India’s X and Instagram handles announced Negi’s move from South London to Liverpool. Indian football fans applauded the move, and Negi’s tricolour-draped pictures at his first visit to Everton’s newly constructed stadium, Hill Dickinson Stadium, grabbed a lot of headlines.

In this article, we take a look at Urban Negi’s journey from Dynamo Youth FC to Everton Academy and also find out if young Negi can replicate the success and carry forward the legacy of some of the greatest Indian origin players like Michael Chopra and Neil Taylor.

Urban Negi’s journey to Everton Academy FC

Young Urban came into the limelight when he was just seven and playing for Dynamo Youth FC, which is known for producing some of the most technically gifted footballers in modern-day football.

His confidence, dribbling and composure earned plaudits and grabbed a lot of eyeballs. He was soon invited for a trial at Finch Farm, Everton’s training base, and Negi grabbed this golden opportunity with both hands.

Urban’s remarkable footwork has drawn widespread attention, and whenever opportunity knocked the door, Negi never shied off. He has gone on to find the net for Everton’s developmental team and has even scored against Liverpool in a Merseyside derby.

Negi’s parents reflected how young Urban was so resilient enough to leave his friends and school behind in South London to start things afresh in Liverpool. His parents said, “Urbs leaving behind his friends, school, and everything familiar to start fresh in a new city was incredibly tough. And at just 9 years old, it takes immense courage and resilience.”

It is also reported that Negi has found his new idol at Everton FC in Senegalese striker Iliman Ndiaye, who is in sublime form for Everton this season, after scoring 4 goals.

Why is this big news for Indian origin footballers!

Despite India being one of the largest football-viewing nations in the world, the participation and representation of Indian origin players in the English top flight have been rare.

Michael Chopra went on to play for Newcastle United before making a move to Nottingham Forest, Cardiff City and Sunderland. Neil Taylor, on the other hand, played a crucial role in helping Aston Villa secure promotion to the English Premier League and also took them to the finals of the Carabao Cup in 2020.

In the last few years, however, there have been hardly any big Indian origin players in the EPL. Urban Negi’s move is a big development, and it is always believed that EPL academies are the real gateway to elite football at a time when South East Asian footballers are massively underrepresented in the English top flight.

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