Tribal Football

DONE DEAL: O'Brien admits Dyche, Coleman influences on Everton move

DONE DEAL: O'Brien admits Dyche, Coleman influences on Everton move
DONE DEAL: O'Brien admits Dyche, Coleman influences on Everton moveAction Plus
Everton have completed the signing of defender Jake O'Brien from Lyon.

O'Brien returns to England after a year away following his sale by Crystal Palace. He has signed a deal to 2028.

Advertisement
Advertisement

"I’m buzzing and so happy to have signed for Everton,” O’Brien told evertontv. “I've been dreaming of this kind of move in the Premier League, with such a historic club. It's a very exciting move for me.

“Everton is a huge club with a lot of history behind it and there's a big future as well.

“When the transfer window opened there were other clubs in for me but there was only one club I wanted to go to – it was Everton.

“They’ve shown the faith in me so now it's my turn to show why on the pitch.”

He added: “I'm a ball-playing centre half, fast, I like to attack in both boxes and I like to bring a bit of excitement.

“You see how Sean Dyche develops young centre-halves and what he has done for Jarrad (Branthwaite). The way he’s going now, the season he’s had in the Premier League, it’s obviously something I look at and something I want to replicate.

“This season, I just want to play as many games as I can and help the Club get higher up the table. It’s an exciting time and it’d be good to end the season – the last season at Goodison Park – as high up the table as we can.

“We’ve then got the new stadium, which looks great. Not just that but we’re shaping a team for the future and can push on.”

On the influence of his Republic of Ireland and now Everton captain Seamus Coleman, O'Brien revealed: “Seamus has been on to me to sign for Everton! He’s a top guy, a brilliant captain, and to play under him here as well as with Ireland will be a privilege.

“He’s the best captain I've ever played under. He's massively respected – not just here but in the football world in general.

“I've met all of the lads in the squad and you can sense straight away that it's a tight-knit group. Obviously, having Seamus here will help me as well.”