Everton have reached an agreement in principle with Lyon to acquire centre-back Jake O’Brien, according to Fabrizio Romano. The Toffees have been linked with a new defender throughout the summer, with star player Jarrad Branthwaite’s future unknown due to interest from Manchester United. However, the Blues have finally secured their centre-back position by reaching an agreement with the Ligue 1 giants for a player who had been a target for much of the window.
Everton agree to a deal for Jake O’Brien’s medical booking on condition. O’Brien just joined Ligue 1 in the summer of 2023 after leaving Crystal Palace for £1 million, but he impressed last season and piqued the interest of numerous Premier League clubs this summer. Known for his “exceptional” aerial skill and size, the Republic of Ireland international is expected to fit in wonderfully with Sean Dyche’s style of play and will compete for a starting berth with Branthwaite and vice-captain James Tarkowski.
Despite an agreement with Lyon, a deal is not yet complete, with Fabrizio Romano stating via X that personal terms for a move to Goodison Park have still to be agreed upon. If the 23-year-old agrees to terms, he is scheduled to have a medical on Sunday (28 July) before returning to England. O’Brien has agreed to a five-year contract to transfer to Merseyside, but a physical could be pushed back to Monday (29 July) to allow for paperwork to be completed first. West Ham have also expressed an interest in O’Brien as they attempt to bolster their squad, but Everton appear to have won the race to recruit him.
