Everton have signed Republic of Eire defender Jake O’Brien from Lyon.
The 23-year-old centre-back has signed a four-year deal and returns to the Premier League, having solely joined the Ligue 1 membership from Crystal Palace final 12 months.
Nonetheless, he went on to play 27 occasions within the French prime flight, scoring 4 objectives.
Since then, the 6ft 6ins defender has gone on to make his worldwide debut, that includes twice for the Republic of Eire of their June friendlies.
Extra to comply with…
O’Brien turns Goodison into ‘Land of the Giants’
Sky Sports activities’ Ben Grounds:
Simply 12 months after turning into the primary Irishman since Tony Cascarino in 2000 to play in Ligue 1, O’Brien is returning to England for an eight-figure sum.
Having joined Lyon for €1m (£850,000) from Crystal Palace, the French membership – who should generate €100m in participant gross sales this summer time to fulfill the calls for of the nation’s soccer’s monetary watchdog – are making a fast and sizeable revenue.
O’Brien is 6ft 6ins tall – including to Everton’s peak
O’Brien did want lengthy to determine himself as a mainstay after Pierre Sage’s appointment. Again in December, he was voted Lyon’s participant of the month. By Could, he was scoring within the 2024 Coupe de France ultimate towards PSG.
With simply two Republic of Eire caps to his identify, his progress has been regular since a profitable mortgage spell at RWD Molenbeek, contributing to the membership’s championship title and promotion to the Jupiler Professional League.
Nonetheless, he did not make an expert look throughout three years at Crystal Palace.
O’Brien, at 23, has already been on the scene for a while, spending the second half of the 2021/22 season on mortgage at Swindon City in League Two. Like Coleman, who joined Everton aged 20, he may very well be classed as a late bloomer. That isn’t the place the similarities with the membership’s document Premier League appearance-maker finish.
Coleman, a Killybegs native, was a gifted Gaelic footballer earlier than committing to affiliation soccer, whereas O’Brien received the nationwide championship of hurling aged 14 along with being a gifted boxer – bodily attributes he has transferred throughout the 2 sports activities.
Regardless of his peak, Everton’s newest recruit recorded a pace of 35 km/h throughout a restoration dash towards Rennes final season, showcasing his tempo throughout the bottom honed in his early life.
Amadou Onana has left Everton for Aston Villa
Sean Dyche could have warmed to his uncommon journey that has introduced a number of experiences already at such a younger age, whereas he’s additionally recruiting a aim menace; solely Alexandre Lacazette (19 objectives) scored greater than O’Brien’s 5 in 32 matches for Lyon final time period.
The Everton boss bought Amadou Onana to Aston Villa earlier this month, and whereas the Belgian occupied a unique place, one among his greatest qualities was at set items in each containers – an space through which O’Brien excels.
Everton do not see the centre-back as a alternative for Manchester United goal Jarrad Branthwaite however quite the most recent youthful recruit beneath the steering of director of soccer Kevin Thelwell. All 4 summer time signings are aged 24 or beneath.
James Tarkowski alongside Branthwaite will probably be anticipated to stay the first-choice pairing – however Everton proceed to look to the long run. Tarkowski turns 32 in November whereas they may not afford to enter one other marketing campaign with Michael Keane and Mason Holgate as the subsequent in line.
O’Brien will again himself to hit the bottom operating and his ceiling may be very excessive. It has to be. Premier League opponents will probably be arriving within the Land of the Giants on their ultimate go to to Goodison Park.
‘Courageous as a lion’ – O’Brien’s uncommon journey
Sky Sports activities’ Adam Bate spoke to O’Brien’s former coaches to search out out extra:
It was within the first half of Molenbeek’s recreation towards Beveren in April of final 12 months that it occurred. Molenbeek’s finest defender contested a duel with the opposition striker and emerged from it with a damaged nostril. The blood was streaming down his face.
“There was a lot of it,” Jonathan Alves tells Sky Sports activities. Alves was Molenbeek’s assistant coach and feared the worst, for participant and staff. “This was first against second and we were sure he was going to stop. It was impossible. But he just cleaned himself off.”
Alves nonetheless remembers the second that this Irishman turned to the Belgian crowd and urged them to roar their help. “Within minutes, he was delivering a top performance. If you want to know who Jake O’Brien is, just watch that game and see what he did.”
It feels a little bit uncomfortable to reward such bravery when there would have been no disgrace in going off. However for these concerned, this was a defining second in Molenbeek’s title win. “A big game, lots of pressure? Let’s go. That is my best memory of Jake.”
When does the summer time switch window open and shut?
The 2024 summer time switch window formally closes on August 30 at 11pm UK time within the Premier League and 11.30pm in Scotland.
The Premier League has introduced ahead Deadline Day to hyperlink up with the opposite main leagues in Europe. The time limits have been set following discussions with the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.
