Demi Akarakiri: Cagliari complete free transfer for England-Nigeria teenager from Everton U18

Cagliari have completed the signing of central midfielder Demi Akarakiri from Everton U18 on a free transfer, with the deal officially registered to begin on 03/07/2026. The 18-year-old moves directly from the U18 Premier League to the Serie A club, committing to a contract that is currently scheduled to run until 30/06/2027.

The transfer is confirmed as a free move, with no fee paid to Everton, and no market value listed for Akarakiri at the time of the switch. The move takes the London-born midfielder out of England’s youth system and places him in Italy’s top flight structure, where he will be eligible to feature for Cagliari in Serie A once integrated into the club’s setup.

Akarakiri arrives in Sardinia having most recently been registered with Everton’s U18 side, following a previous spell in the Arsenal youth ranks. He joined Everton U18 from Arsenal FC Youth ahead of the 2024–25 season, staying within the English academy system before a brief period without a club at the start of the 2026–27 campaign. That short free-agent window formally preceded his move to Cagliari on 03/07/2026.

The midfielder, who stands at 1.90m, is listed primarily as a central midfielder and is right-footed. His profile suggests he has been developed for a role in the middle of the pitch, with Cagliari now holding his registration and listing him as part of their squad. His nationalities are recorded as England and Nigeria, underlining a dual-nationality background that could offer him future international options, although there is no senior or youth national-team record given in the data.

Cagliari’s acquisition of Akarakiri represents a direct pathway from the English U18 system to a Serie A club, a notable step for a player still in his teens. He moves from the U18 Premier League environment in England into an Italian context where the pace, tactical demands and competitive structure differ significantly. The transfer data confirms Cagliari as his current club, with no loan or intermediary moves indicated.

No current-season statistics, appearances or recent match details are provided for Akarakiri, and there is no recorded market valuation attached to him at the point of transfer. The absence of fee and valuation figures underlines that this deal is built around potential rather than established first-team output, while still being a fully completed and registered transfer.

Born on 29 September 2007 in London, Akarakiri now faces the task of adapting from English youth football to the demands of an Italian professional environment. If he can translate his development at Arsenal’s youth setup and Everton U18 into progression at Cagliari, this confirmed free transfer has the potential to become a significant early step in his senior career.