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Everton FC starlet Ryan Ledson put pen to paper on a new three-year deal and immediately set his sights on the Blues first-team.

The talented young midfielder marked his 17th birthday by signing fresh terms at the club he has played for since the age of five.

Ledson, who captained England U-17s to European Championship success in May, has already been touted as being on the brink of Premier League involvement by Roberto Martinez.

The Netherton-born teenager was on the bench for matches at Southampton and against Manchester City last term, with Martinez even planning on fielding him in the last game of the season at Hull until his international call-up.

If he had come on he would have been second only to Jose Baxter as the youngest first team player in the club’s history.

Now Ledson is focused on making the most of whatever opportunities come his way this season.

He said: “I’m delighted. I’ve been here since I was a young kid and this is what you strive towards. The day has finally come, so I’m made up.

“For me, it’s been 12 years of hard work at Everton football club to get to this day, but there is no better place to be and I’m absolutely over the moon.

“Now I just want to keep playing well for the Under-21s and then hopefully an opportunity will come around again with the first team in the future.”