Player Newcastle United sold for £6m turns down contract at Everton

Former Newcastle United academy defender Lewis Gibson has joined Championship side Plymouth Argyle after turning down a new contract at Everton.

Gibson quit his boyhood club Newcastle in 2017 in a deal worth £6million but failed to make a first-team appearance for the Toffees.

The 22-year-old spent last season on loan at Joey Barton’s Bristol Rovers having already had temporary spells at Fleetwood Town, Reading and Sheffield Wednesday.

He had the opportunity to extend his stay at Goodison Park but decided to find a new permanent home and with that secure regular first-team football.

Plymotu manager Steven Schumacher said: “Lewis is an outstanding young defender who has excellent pedigree having come through the youth set-ups at two Premier League clubs.

“He has also had a number of loan spells in the Football League that have developed him into the player he is today. We are signing a ball-playing central defender who has his best years ahead of him and has so much room for development.

“Left-sided defenders are also hard to come by, especially of Lewis’ quality, and we beat off a number of clubs trying to clinch his services. We are delighted he has chosen his future is with Argyle and look forward to him running out at Home Park in the Championship.”

There was brief talk of Gibson returning to Newcastle’s youth up in 2019 when Peter Beardsley departed as under-23s coach before he opting to stay with Everton.