Lots of Everton fans have been reacting on social media after the club confirmed the signing of Carlisle United defender Jarrad Branthwaite.
The 17-year-old has moved to Goodison Park on a two-and-a-half-year contract, and will link up with David Unsworth’s Under 23s as be begins life as a Toffee.
Branthwaite broke into the Carlisle first-team under Steven Pressley earlier this season, having made his senior debut aged 17 years, two months and 28 days when fielded against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the EFL Trophy.
The towering 6 ft 4 youngster would make his League Two debut a month later, when Pressley called on Branthwaite to start as the central of three defenders as the Cumbrians lost 2-0 at Plymouth Argyle.
Carlisle-born Branthwaite would remain the starting line-up for the Brunton Park natives’ next seven games before sustaining a thigh injury, and has featured once since returning to fitness.
He now moves to Everton for £1million, after the Blues finalised a deal with Carlisle following a £500,000 bid being rejected earlier this month.
Branthwaite is excited to get going on Merseyside, and has lauded the pathway into senior football at Goodison Park as a key reason behind his decision to join the club.
“The pathway is superb – that’s what made me want to join Everton,” he told the club’s official website. “I’ve seen those players get their chance in the first-team and do well. I just can’t wait to get started.
“Everton is a big club and I’m buzzing to be here. The facilities at USM Finch Farm are unbelievable. I like everything about the place.
“I want to settle in, get to know all the boys and put in some good performances for the Under 23s.
“My long-term goal, 100 per cent, is to play for the Everton first-team in front of the great crowds at Goodison. That would be my dream.”
Will Branthwaite make it to the first-team?
Yes
No
Branthwaite got his first taste of Unsworth’s style of football on Monday night, as he watched our young Blues draw 3-3 with Arsenal’s academy in a Premier League 2 clash in Southport.
The result saw our U23s slide to seventh in the standings and with one win in our last five PL2 games, and face league-leaders Chelsea next on January 24 with the chance to move back above Liverpool.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Branthwaite’s statement on joining our academy…
U23s trying to make it through the pathway pic.twitter.com/lN8kXEpVdM
— Adam Mc (@adam_efc90) January 14, 2020
He’s basically come in and said “Have you seen Michael Keane? I’ll be in the first team in a few months.”
— Mitch Winslow (@Winning_Slowly) January 14, 2020
The odds we’ll ever see him anywhere near the first team!!!
— Teeth (@majomajor_teeth) January 13, 2020
@therealedhart by “the pathway is great” what he means is, “Keane is toilet and I walk in to this team” I think.
— Jock (@jock_kenworthy) January 14, 2020
Someone better tell him 👀
— Duncan Van Marle (@dvanmarle9) January 13, 2020
just you wait till you misplace a pass lad…
— Max O’Collins (@MaxOCollins) January 13, 2020
Start him over Keane
— Joe Williams (@Joewillo180) January 13, 2020
“the pathway is superb” pic.twitter.com/VLo5SmAz3L
— Michael (@greenallefc) January 13, 2020
Already looking forward to the 59 million we get from man city in 2026
— Just a guy named Chris (@mrclatimer1985) January 13, 2020
In other Everton news, a Sky Sports pundit has tipped a first-team mainstay to face an uncertain future under Carlo Ancelotti.