Lifelong Blue Issy Hobson has signed her first professional contract with Everton, keeping the defender with her childhood club until the end of June 2027.

A Season Ticket Member during the Senior Men’s Team’s past 13 seasons, Hobson has established herself as a regular in Brian Sorensen’s matchday squads after making impressive progress through the Club’s academy.

Hobson is also the Women’s Super League’s youngest-ever goalscorer following her 95th-minute header against title-chasing Arsenal in April 2024 at the age of 16 years and 180 days.

After committing her future to the Club, Hobson – who turned 18 last week – spoke of her pride to wear the royal blue shirt and walk out at Goodison Park.

“I honestly don't think I can put it into words what it means to sign this contract,” the teenager told evertontv. “I am so, so grateful for this opportunity. It is something I have been working towards since I was a three-year-old Everton fan sitting in the stands.

“I think grateful is the only word I can use to describe it and for everyone who has helped me get into this position and reach this goal.

“Being an Evertonian, I know what it means to be an Everton player and fan. The passion we have towards every single game and every single training session is unmatched.

“Even being a Scouser, there is a togetherness which everyone gets. I hope I can help set the standard of what it means to play for Everton.

“Growing up an Everton fan and playing for Everton for 11 years now, it has always been my dream and I always knew it would happen because in my head there was no other path for me. It was always to be an Everton player.”

A regular at the Grand Old Lady growing up, the defender watched her heroes from Block Four of the Upper Bullens Stand.

Now that Sorensen’s Women’s side have made their historic move to Goodison Park, Hobson looked ahead to making more memories at the UK’s biggest women’s-only stadium, while paying homage to her inspiration – Men’s captain Seamus Coleman.

“I don't think it will ever sink in that I have been the one to sit in the stands and watch my role models, and now I am the one going on that pitch and playing,” said Hobson.

“It makes me think about the people who are now sat in that seat wanting to be in my position, which is just a crazy feeling because I know that was once me. I feel like because I have been around the fans and I have been in the crowd, it also gives me another sense of understanding what it is like and what the fans want – and to strive to give them that.

“My idol growing up was always Seamus Coleman, with the passion he has for the Club and the standards he sets. If I can be that person and put on the performance they need from me, that is the biggest thing.

“There is just so much emotion around Goodison for me. I have got so many good memories and when I come here, it is like all the memories come back. That also gives me another push to go out on the pitch because of that feeling and adrenaline I get.

“I want to put that to use and go on the pitch to make their memories for Everton Women.”

Kelly Gago’s 94th-minute equaliser saw Everton secure a point against Aston Villa at Villa Park following a dominant performance in the second city. 

The France international completed a brace against the Villans, with Hikaru Kitagawa’s curling strike completing the scoring for the controlling Blues.

Despite the Toffees’ superiority, the home side took the lead twice throughout the 90 minutes. Brian Sorensen’s side fought hard, though, battling relentlessly to complete a spirited performance and secure a point, which was the least that they deserved.

Emily Ramsey was trusted in between the sticks, with a backline of Martina Fernandez, Ruby Mace, Elise Stenevik and Maz Pacheco in front of her – Pacheco facing her former side for the first time since signing for the Club in July.

Clare Wheeler donned the captain’s armband and formed a midfield three alongside Honoka Hayashi and Rosa van Gool. Gago led the line for the Blues, with Ornella Vignola and Toni Payne operating in wide positions. 

It was the Blues that started on the front foot, Vignola registering the first attempt of the afternoon with seven minutes on the clock. Gago nodded Payne’s ball back across the face of goal, where Vignola met it with a header of her own. The Spaniard narrowly missed the target, her effort sailing over the upright.

Van Gool was the next to come close, hitting the side-netting from a tight angle only two minutes later. After intercepting a tame pass, the midfielder breached the Villa box and set her sights in the  right-hand side of the area.

The early control paid off, as Gago wheeled away in celebration after finding the back of the net on 11 minutes. Teed up perfectly by Fernandez, the striker fired past Sabrina D’Angelo in front of the traveling Evertonians.

Sorensen’s side continued to dominate the opening 45, enjoying the majority of possession whilst controlling the tempo. However, in the eighth minute of first-half injury-time, the hosts restored parity through Georgia Mullett, who turned the ball home after meeting Noelle Maritz’s lofted ball.

Rion Ishikawa was named in the matchday squad for the first time since September and replaced Stenevik at the break. The Norwegian had previously gone down in the first-half, with Sorensen making the switch during the interval.

Villa completed the turnaround in the 58th minute as Mullett turned provider to set up Kirsty Hanson. The 20-year-old burst down the right before crossing low, where Hanson prodded home with her first touch.

Sorensen made a triple change with 25 minutes remaining as Kitagawa, Hayley Ladd and Yuka Momiki replaced Pacheco, Hayashi and Payne. 

Five minutes after coming on, Kitagawa cut-in on to her weaker foot before curling a superb effort past D'Angelo to level the scores.

The tables turned again only four minutes later, as Ebony Salmon’s deflected strike arrowed through several shirts before nestling in to the roof of the net.

The visitors pushed hard for a late equaliser, Ishikawa seeing a powerful volley rebound off the crossbar.

With 94 minutes played, Gago emphatically volleyed past D’Angelo to secure a well-deserved point for the Blues. Vignola’s cross fell fortunately to the forward, who was on her toes to power home from ten-yards out.