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Danny Philpott has been officially named as the new assistant academy manager at Sunderland following a move from the head of national recruitment position at Everton.
Philpott will work under academy boss Ged McNamee in a role focused on recruitment of youth players who'll be drafted into the development sides at the Academy of Light.
Speaking of his new role, Philpott said:
"Joining Sunderland is a hugely exciting opportunity for me.
"I’m really looking forward to playing my part in successfully developing more homegrown players to integrate into the first team.
"Initially focusing on aligning our recruitment approach from our very youngest academy talent right through to the first team, I’ll also be working with Ged McNamee and Lee Congerton in other areas of the academy to ensure we continue to develop Sunderland as one of the leading programmes in the Premier League."
He's highly regarded for his work on Merseyside, which has seen many youngsters initially brought into the Toffees' youth set-up progress to first-team level during his time in the north-west.
The latest addition to the backroom team will begin duties on Wearside at the beginning of December, whilst working closely with sporting director Lee Congerton in the search for new talent.
Congerton said of the Everton scout's appointment:
"I am delighted that Danny has agreed to join us at Sunderland.
"I have known him for many years and he is a fantastic addition to our great team of people here."
Hopefully the appointment will herald a new dawn of homegrown footballers coming through the ranks and into the first-team over the coming months and years.
