Shani Tarashaj had his loan spell at FC Emmen cut short before he tore up his Everton contract, meaning he’s currently a free agent. The 25-year-old had a pretty forgettable spell at Goodison Park, making little impact over three years as he spent the majority of his time injured or out on loan.
Tribal Football note that while Everton tried to facilitate his career by extending his contract by 12 months and agreeing to cover a portion of his wages while he spent time at Emmen, Tarashaj explained in an interview with Blick that he needed a fresh start.
He said: “I had to leave this negative spiral and draw a line. My last three years have been one story of suffering. I want to start from scratch. (Roberto) Martinez had a very precise idea of how he would introduce me to the Premier League. He fully trusted me and my abilities. His dismissal was just bad luck for me.”
Tarashaj joined Everton from Grasshoppers for £3.6m in January 2016 and went on to make just two appearances for the U23s. The Swiss international’s inability to break into our first-team led to him being loaned out to Eintracht Frankfurt (August 31, 2016 – June 30, 2017), Grasshoppers (July 19, 2018 – June 30, 2019) and Emmen (July 14, 2019 – October 11), where he made 24 appearances in total, scoring just one goal.
Tarashaj hasn’t made a senior appearance in any competition since May 2019. He struggled with influenza at Emmen and failed to make the matchday squad once this season. You can’t blame the 25-year-old for wanting a fresh start, but what club would gamble on him?
Tarashaj has been short of form, fitness and playing time, so he may have to play at a much lower level than he’s used to. Terminating his contract means we’ve failed to recoup the £3.6m transfer fee and £0.78m-a-year wages spent, but here’s hoping the Swiss forward can turn his career around.
The Swiss international has been unlucky with injuries in recent years and will be desperate to play on a regular basis again. Where will he end up?
In other news, here’s how Nathan Markelo is faring at FC Twente