Descended from minor Goodison aristocracy – his uncle, Alan Whittle, was a 1970 League title winner – Tom Davies was a local talent who, like his forbear, embodied the club’s tradition of nurturing homegrown players.

A midfielder, Davies combined energy and technical skill with a distinctive personality on and off the pitch. Indeed, great things were expected of him when he emerged as a teenage prospect in the mid-2010s.  Alas, his Goodison career was undermined by managerial instability, injury and, perhaps, the overbearing weight of expectation.

He made his senior debut in April 2016 at the tail end of Roberto Martínez reign – the Spaniard being one of seven full time managers Davies would play under during six years with the first team – but it was under Ronald Koeman the following season that he made a more significant impact.

Davies could operate as a defensive anchor, a box-to-box presence, or a more advanced playmaker, depending on the team’s needs. He showcased his immense promise in January 2017, when he scored his first senior goal in a 4-0 victory against Manchester City. The strike, a deft chip over Claudio Bravo after a surging run, highlighted his composure and vision and cemented his place in the hearts of Everton supporters.

While Davies’s workrate and tactical intelligence were never in question, this early promise was never really built upon.  The team’s managerial instability and fluctuating performances meant that he often had to adapt to different roles and styles of play, something he seemed to struggle with.

‘It’s part of football, isn’t it?’ he said in an Observer interview in October 2017 of the team’s challenges. ‘I didn’t expect my career to be all flowers and roses. This is just another part of my development really, a good challenge. I’ve got to show I’m good enough to deserve a place and I’m definitely going to work on that.’

A few weeks after that interview, Koeman – under whom Davies had flourished – was sacked and replaced by Sam Allardyce. Seven months after that, Allardyce was replaced by Marco Silva. The Portuguese, in one of his first matches – a League Cup tie against Rotherham – made Davies, aged 20 years and 60 days Everton’s youngest ever captain. But 15 months later Silva was himself replaced by Carlo Ancelotti.

The captaincy was probably as good as it got for Davies in a blue shirt. He continued to be a regular part of Silva and then Ancelotti’s teams, yet without ever really stamping his authority on the team. His versatility ultimately worked against him: neither a playmaker, nor goalscoring midfielder, nor midfield destroyer, he never seemed to be a number one choice in the Everton midfield nor able to build on that early promise.

Internationally, Davies represented England at every youth level, including captaining the Under-21 side, which he appeared 23 times. Previously he had captained the England Under-17 team to the World Cup in Chile.

Off the pitch, Davies stood out for his individuality. In an era where many footballers conformed to certain stereotypes, Davies’ interest in fashion, music and skateboarding marked him as a unique figure. He embraced his role as a relatable, down-to-earth professional who connected with fans on a personal level and who contributed generously to local good causes.

Despite these positives, Davies’ journey at Everton continued to mirror the team’s broader struggles. By the 2022/23 season, his appearances became sporadic, and it became clear that – despite being offered a new contract – he would need to seek a new challenge to reignite his career.

Davies’ time at Everton officially came to an end in the summer of 2023, when he left the club upon the expiration of his contract. He joined Sheffield United ahead of their return to the Premier League for the 2023/24 season, but found himself injured for most of that campaign. He re-emerged the following season as The Blades challenged for promotion, giving his clearest sign in years that all that potential may finally be realised.