From Kylian Mbappé to Kings Langley: The Curious Journey of Everton’s £17m Transfer Yet to Be Unleashed
Jake O’Brien was hailed as one of Europe’s most promising defenders when he joined Everton in the summer, but on Monday night, he found himself playing for the U21s in search of game time. This development comes after news broke during Everton’s pre-season match against Salford, a game that ended in defeat but offered a glimmer of hope for the club’s future.
Among the young players making an impact was Youssef Chermiti, who won a dangerous free-kick shortly after his introduction, which was converted by James Garner. Harrison Armstrong, the 17-year-old who later made his Premier League debut and received an England call-up, also took his first steps into senior football during the same pre-season period.
However, the biggest headline was the expected arrival of O’Brien, after Everton reached an agreement with Lyon to bring him in. The 23-year-old, who had impressed in France and earned a reputation as an international with the Republic of Ireland, was seen as a natural addition to Everton’s defensive ranks. His arrival was seen as a smart move, with many expecting him to become a key player alongside or eventually replace Jarrad Branthwaite. The £17m investment (though not all paid upfront) felt like a bold statement by the club, despite their financial challenges.
But O’Brien’s Everton career has not unfolded as many had anticipated. Four months after joining, O’Brien, whose last act for Lyon was scoring in the Coupe de France final against PSG, was playing for the U21s in a match against Watford at Kings Langley, far from the senior squad’s spotlight.
When O’Brien first joined, he was welcomed with high expectations. Both the player and director of football Kevin Thelwell pointed to Sean Dyche’s successful work with Branthwaite as a reason why Finch Farm was the perfect place for a promising talent like O’Brien. Additionally, Everton’s club captain, Seamus Coleman, was instrumental in convincing O’Brien, and the young defender made an early impression by scoring in a pre-season rout at Preston North End.
However, despite a promising start, O’Brien has seen his opportunities dwindle. Even during a defensive crisis, Dyche opted for other options. O’Brien was left on the bench in favor of young right-back Roman Dixon at Tottenham Hotspur, and when Branthwaite was injured, Dyche turned to Michael Keane, who has been the preferred backup. O’Brien’s only Premier League minutes so far have been a brief cameo at Aston Villa, despite Everton’s struggles with defending set-pieces and scoring from them.
Keane, however, has shown resilience, overcoming a rough start to the season to become a reliable part of Everton’s defense. While results have been inconsistent, the defense has improved as the season has progressed. O’Brien, alongside Nathan Patterson, has had to be patient and has even lost his spot in the Republic of Ireland squad, only returning during the last international break due to injury withdrawals.
Amid Everton’s ongoing struggles with goals, creativity, and depth at full-back, some have questioned the logic behind spending a significant amount of money on a player who has not yet received substantial opportunities. With Branthwaite now fit again and Tarkowski appearing to have overcome his injury issues, O’Brien’s chances of breaking into the starting XI seem slim for the remainder of the season.
Dyche has acknowledged O’Brien’s patience and continued training efforts, noting that the player is learning and developing, but has been blocked by the presence of experienced centre-backs. Dyche is cautious about introducing players without Premier League experience too soon, believing that the demands of the league—its speed, strength, and mental challenges—can be overwhelming if not approached at the right time.
For now, O’Brien must wait for his chance, but with Keane out of contract in the summer and Branthwaite likely to attract interest from other clubs, O’Brien’s dream of becoming a key figure at Everton is still very much alive. Dyche has reassured him that his time will come, as the club looks to build for the future with O’Brien on a four-year contract.
