Hibernian say they have beaten off competition from several clubs to take teenage midfielder Thomas McCready to Easter Road from Everton.
The 18-year-old trained with the Edinburgh side at the end of the last campaign and will join the successful Under-19 set-up.
Hibs were the Under-19 league and cup champions last season.
Seven members of that squad have since been handed first-team contracts, including Irish striker Kurtis Byrne.
Thomas Flynn, Ewan Moyes, Lee Currie, David Wotherspoon, Sean Walsh and Patrick Deane are the others making the step up this term and manager John Hughes has indicated that they will all get a chance to impress in pre-season games.
On the arrival of Chester-born McCready, who joined Everton as a 12-year-old, Hibs U-19 coach James McDonaugh told the club website: "He has a chance - you don't play a few games for Everton reserves for nothing - so he's got great ability.
"When Tom came up last season and trained with the boys that were winning every week, it helped to get him to the club."
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