Martin Sherif

Last updated
Martin Sherif
Personal information
Date of birth (2006-06-10) 10 June 2006 (age 19) [1]
Place of birth Liberia [2]
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) [3]
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
 Port Vale
(on loan from Everton)
Youth career
–2016 Forza Almere  [ nl ]
2016–2018 Almere City
2019–2025 Everton
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2025– Everton 0 (0)
2025 → Rotherham United (loan) 7 (2)
2026– → Port Vale (loan) 0 (0)
International career
2023 Netherlands U17 4 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:59, 31 December 2025 (UTC)

Martin Sherif (born 10 June 2006) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One club Port Vale, on loan from Premier League club Everton. Born in Liberia, he is a Netherlands youth international up to under-17 level.

Contents

Sherif moved from Almere City to the Academy at Everton at age 13. He spent the first half of the 2025–26 season on loan at Rotherham United and the second half of the season on loan at Port Vale.

Club career

As a youth player, Sherif joined the youth academy of Dutch side Forza Almere  [ nl ]. In 2016, he joined the youth academy of Dutch side Almere City. At the age of 13, he joined the youth academy of English Premier League club Everton [4] and was promoted to the club's reserve team in 2022. Dutch news website Voetbalzone  [ nl ] wrote in 2025 that he was "regarded as one of Liverpool's greatest attacking talents". [5] He became a regular in the U18 side under Paul Tait in 2021–22 and scored 14 goals under Leighton Baines in 2022–23. [6] He scored a hat-trick against Derby County U18 in January 2023. [7] He signed his first professional contract, a three-year deal, shortly after turning 17. [6] He was described as "Sean Dyche's most promising academy prospect" after making what Rheinische Post called a "fearsome impression" in Germany at the Under-19s Champions Trophy in March 2024. [8] [9] He spent February 2025 in the first-team under David Moyes following injuries to Youssef Chermiti, Armando Broja and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. [10]

On 18 August 2025, Sherif signed a season-long loan deal with League One club Rotherham United. [11] Five days later, he scored on his professional debut in a 2–2 draw with Wigan Athletic. [12] He missed September due to injury and was described as "a real game-changing option" by Millers manager Matt Hamshaw after he returned to fitness. [13] On 2 October, he scored what the Rotherham Advertiser later described as "a well-timed glide and a neat finish" during a 2–2 home draw with Bradford City. [14] However his time at the New York Stadium was plagued by hamstring issues that caused three prolonged absences. [15] The injuries limited him to ten appearances in all competitions, of which three were league starts. [16] He was recalled from his loan on New Year's Eve. [17] On 1 February 2026, he returned to League One on loan at Port Vale until the end of the 2025–26 season, joining alongside Everton teammate Eli Campbell. [18]

International career

Sherif is a Netherlands youth international and is eligible to play for the Liberia national football team, having been born in the country. While playing for the Netherlands national under-17 football team, he played for them for 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification and the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. [1]

Style of play

Sherif is a left-footed forward who is known for his shooting ability and strength. [19] [20] He can use this strength to hold the ball up. [21] A confident player, he has described his playing style as "making loads of runs. Power. Strength. Goals. Especially goals." [22]

Career statistics

As of match played 10 May 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeague FA Cup EFL Cup OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Everton 2024–25 [23] Premier League 0000000000
Everton U23 2023–24 [24] ———2 [a] 020
2024–25 [23] ———1 [a] 111
Total———3131
Rotherham United (loan) 2025–26 [25] EFL League One 7210101 [a] 0102
Port Vale (loan) 2025–26 [25] EFL League One0000—0000
Career total72101041133
  1. 1 2 3 Appearance/s in the EFL Trophy

References

  1. 1 2 Martin Sherif at Soccerway
  2. ↑ Martin Sherif at Soccerbase
  3. ↑ Blunt, Geoffrey (5 July 2023). "Forward look for Everton Under 18s as two new professionals commit to the Toffees". Royal Blue Mersey. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  4. ↑ O'Neill, Connor (15 January 2023). "Everton coach makes Martin Sherif 'composure' point after mini-derby equaliser". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  5. ↑ Antes, Wessel (16 January 2025). "Nederlands talent (18) zit na maanden zonder speeltijd plotseling op de bank bij Everton in de Premier League" [Dutch talent (18) suddenly finds himself on the bench at Everton in the Premier League after months without playing time] (in Dutch). Voetbalzone  [ nl ]. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  6. 1 2 Kenrick, Michael (3 July 2023). "Martin Sherif signs his first professional contract". Toffeeweb. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  7. ↑ O'Neill, Connor (29 January 2023). "What Everton starlet was working on before dramatic 20-minute hat-trick". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  8. ↑ Davies, Callum (2 April 2024). "National media laud 'fearsome' 17-year-old Everton player who has just shone at youth tournament". Everton News. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  9. ↑ Wilson, Sean (3 April 2024). "'Doors will open' for 'fearsome' teen Everton striker Martin Sherif". Goodison News. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  10. ↑ Thomas, Joe (1 March 2025). "Everton starlet sends perfect message after Abu Dhabi training camp snub". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  11. ↑ "Everton loanee Sherif is in town". Rotherham United FC. 18 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  12. ↑ "Rotherham United 2–2 Wigan Athletic". BBC. 23 August 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  13. ↑ Dawes, Olly (1 October 2025). "Exciting Everton loanee praised as manager shares 'game-changing' verdict". Everton News. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  14. ↑ Davis, Paul (3 January 2026). "He was almost-comically large and muscular - like a comprehensive kid playing against kindergarten opposition". Rotherham Advertiser. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  15. ↑ Davis, Paul (19 November 2025). ""He's going to be missing. It's a blow."". Rotherham Advertiser. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  16. ↑ Davis, Paul (5 December 2025). ""His bones probably haven't developed as of yet into the body that he's got."". Rotherham Advertiser. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  17. ↑ "Sherif Recalled From Rotherham Loan". Everton FC. 31 December 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  18. ↑ "Sherif Seals Port Vale Loan Switch". Everton FC. 1 February 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  19. ↑ Davis, Paul (21 August 2025). ""I like his physicality, I like his pace and power, I like his age, I like his desire to score goals."". Rotherham Advertiser. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  20. ↑ Sinclair, Angus (7 May 2024). "Everton could find new Calvert-Lewin partner in exciting academy star". FootballFanCast. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  21. ↑ Dawes, Olly (10 November 2025). "Everton's Martin Sherif could save David Moyes millions in the future amid 'amazing' prediction". Everton News. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  22. ↑ Davis, Paul (29 August 2025). ""He said: 'We want you.' That's what got me. It was fantastic to hear."". Rotherham Advertiser. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  23. 1 2 "Games played by Martin Sherif in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  24. ↑ "Games played by Martin Sherif in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  25. 1 2 "Games played by Martin Sherif in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
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