Everton confirm Matthew Pennington has joined Hull City on a season-long loan deal. The 24-year-old had an uncertain future this summer after being on the periphery in 2018/19 and ignored by Marco Silva during pre-season.
Despite Everton’s lack of centre-backs and their inability to re-sign Kurt Zouma, Silva didn’t consider Pennington as a potential option.
The Englishman’s last first-team appearance came against Leicester City on April 17, 2017, and he’s since spent the last two years out on loan – Leeds United (July 19, 2017 – May 31, 2018), Ipswich Town (August 31, 2018 – May 31, 2019).
Pennington has now been loaned out six times in his Everton career and has only made nine appearances for the Toffees since rising through the youth ranks.
It’s hard to see the 24-year-old having a long-term future at Everton. His contract expires in 2021, but the Toffees might entertain bids to offload him permanently.
If Silva is happy to go into next with only Yerry Mina, Michael Keane and Mason Holgate at centre-back, it’s clear how little he rates Pennington.
The fact all his loans have been to the Football League suggests the Everton manager might be right to overlook him, however.