Bradford City to cash in from Green pro deal (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford City to cash in from George Green pro deal

7:40am Thursday 3rd January 2013 in Sport By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter

George Green with Everton boss David Moyes when he first signed for the Toffees from City

City will scoop another windfall after teenage prodigy George Green signed his first professional deal with Everton.

The Telegraph & Argus understands the Bantams will receive between £70,000 and £80,000 as part of the structured move which saw Green leave Valley Parade in October 2011.

It is the latest cash injection for the club, who could bank up to £1million from the two legs of the Capital One Cup semi-final against Aston Villa.

Similar to the deal involving Andre Wisdom at Liverpool, City are in line to get further payments when he plays for the first team and there are also clauses for a sell-on fee and any potential international appearances.

Green, who has only just turned 17, has already represented England at that age group and the Dewsbury-born midfielder is earning rave reviews at Goodison Park.

He has been training regularly with the senior squad and it is believed that he recently played in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Huddersfield.

Green has signed pro terms until the end of the 2014-15 season. He said: “As soon as I signed for Everton from Bradford, I was hoping I would get to a stage where I earned a pro contract. I’ve done that so it feels really good, to be honest.

“It’s been much harder at Everton than I thought; a much tougher challenge. I’m playing with better players now and it’s been really enjoyable.”

Around 20 clubs were thought to be interested in Green, who caught the eye with a hat-trick during a trial match for Tottenham under-18s against Aston Villa.

Spurs were also very keen to sign him but he opted for Everton after meeting boss David Moyes and sampling the atmosphere of the Merseyside derby. The deal was expected to net City around £2million in total.

Meanwhile, World Cup final referee Howard Webb will take charge of next Tuesday’s clash with Villa at Valley Parade.

It will be the first time the Rotherham-based official has refereed a City game since 2004. He was in the middle for the 3-2 defeat at Derby on Easter Monday which relegated the Bantams from the second tier.

Mike Mularkey, who assisted Webb at the 2010 showpiece in South Africa, will run the line along with Sian Massey – the female assistant at the centre of the ‘Sky-gate’ scandal involving Andy Gray and Richard Keys.