Lyndon Lloyd 09/07/2023 29comments  |  Jump to last

Everton reserve goalkeeper Joao Virginia has agreed a new 2-year contract with the club.

The young Portuguese stopper spent last season on loan in the Dutch league with SC Cambuur but could now get the chance to vie with veteran Andy Lonergan, who agreed to a contract extension last week, for the number two spot behind Jordan Pickford.

Asmir Begovic left the club last month at the end of his contract having turned down fresh terms to remain at Goodison Park but it is unclear if the Blues are in the market for a more experienced back-up. 

Everton signed Virginia from Arsenal's academy in August 2018 and he was a fixture for what was then the  Under-23s before going out on a series of loans at Reading, Sporting Lisbon, and Cambuur.

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To date he has made just three first-team appearances for the Toffees, one in each of the Premier League, EFL Cup and FA Cup, with his display in the last game a valiant one as he kept Pep Guardiola's Manchester City at bay for three quarters of the game before two late goals put the Citizens through.

 

Reader Comments (29)

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David Bromwell
1 Posted 09/07/2023 at 12:32:07
Virginia is a funny one. Looked okay when saw I him play but seems to have a rough time while away on loan.

Presumably our Number 2 now so fingers crossed he can do the business.

Tony Abrahams
2 Posted 09/07/2023 at 13:07:58
It sounds like Virginia possibly suffers with nerves, David?
Paul Hewitt
3 Posted 09/07/2023 at 14:48:05
Surely this means he will be our Number 2 goalkeeper.
Paul Ferry
4 Posted 09/07/2023 at 14:53:06
Wish I could get excited or at least pleased by this.

I simply cannot.

Ian Bennett
5 Posted 09/07/2023 at 15:02:35
Like a new signing.
Gary Brown
6 Posted 09/07/2023 at 15:09:49
Good choice for once. Well, as long as we use him as number 2 and not just extend to loan out again.

Still a young keeper, and decent experience for his age. Hopefully good enough for the no-hope cups and saves buying another grandad to add £20-40k a week to bill for no reason.

Ajay Gopal
7 Posted 09/07/2023 at 15:42:13
I remember he played well in the FA Cup game against Man City a couple of seasons ago (?) and had kept a clean sheet until they got a lucky rebound from the crossbar. I hope he can get a few games and is able to show the fans what he is capable of.

However, my opinion is that it would be a big risk to rely on him and Lonergan if Pickford were to be out for an extended period of time (knocking on wood).

Paul Ferry
8 Posted 09/07/2023 at 15:49:44
Agree, Ajay, this puts too much weight, importance and pressure on Pickford, who I hope with all fingers tightly crossed will be with us at the start of September.
Lee Courtliff
9 Posted 09/07/2023 at 15:50:42
He looked fine when he played against City and Burnley a couple of years ago. I'd much prefer this over wasting yet more money on a back up that hardly ever plays anyway.
James Flynn
10 Posted 09/07/2023 at 15:53:56
Didn't see this coming. He's terrible.

This past March I put this in the ToffeeWeb LoanWatch thread.

"Played his last game on 21 January. After which the manager said, “He has made too many of the same kinds of mistakes in recent weeks, which made the team restless.”

Not good. Hasn't played since. One year left on his contract, the club will have to find someone somewhere to take Joao on loan for his last season with us. He's 24 come October and will never be big-league quality."

And he didn't play any games after March, either.

I'll stick with my opinions, then and now.

If he's going to be our #2 keeper, I pray that Pickford doesn't get injured.

Habib Erkan Jr
11 Posted 09/07/2023 at 15:57:19
Kevin continues to do his best to make lemonade out of the lemons
Andy Mack
12 Posted 09/07/2023 at 16:31:07
Strange one, but it makes sense as he's already here and will (hopefully) barely play. I'd be more confident with 'free again' Robles as a backup to Pickford and Joao taking Lonergans 'third keeper' shirt. It is a shame that Joao's loans did nothing to iron out the errors in his game.
Alan J Thompson
13 Posted 09/07/2023 at 17:21:32
Obviously it has occurred to somebody that we might be light on for a bench if last season is anything to go by. Given their references from respective loan managers Tyrer might have been a better choice.
Andy Crooks
14 Posted 09/07/2023 at 17:46:49
Paul @ 8, I fear Pickford will be gone.

I've criticized Pickford in the past but his work and improvement have been magnificent. I think he will go to Man Utd. If he should decide to stay it would be huge for our club and a testament that there is some integrity still around.

I doubt that our current guardians will fight too hard to keep him.

Will Mabon
15 Posted 09/07/2023 at 18:49:46
It's been a slow start but the big deals have finally begun.
Steve Shave
16 Posted 09/07/2023 at 19:01:28
Andy, Man Utd are going for Onana from Inter, not Pickford.
Paul Kossoff
17 Posted 09/07/2023 at 19:02:49
To quote Ren and Stimpy, "Oh joy." Just another paper over the cracks of no transfers, no investment no good news. NEXT!!!
Justin Doone
18 Posted 09/07/2023 at 19:29:38
Firstly I hope it's because he's an excellent keeper and highly deserves to be kept. But a 2-year deal makes me think otherwise.

I find it hard to judge keepers unless I've seen them play (and be tested) for a few seasons.

It's an easy option if other youth keepers can't step- up. He looked decent in the few games I've seen him play. Good luck to him.

Bill Gienapp
19 Posted 09/07/2023 at 20:13:16
Initially seemed an exciting prospect, but the fact we gave Sporting Lisbon an option to buy suggested he wasn't in the club's long-term thinking... so this change of heart feels suspect.
Ernie Baywood
20 Posted 09/07/2023 at 20:26:08
Back-up keeper isn't a position that is a priority to invest. Keeping Virginia makes sense.

But if there's a plan to sell Pickford, I'll be worried.

Ian Riley
21 Posted 09/07/2023 at 23:37:30
Andy#14 think you are right. Pickford will be sold based on needing the money. Only 2/3 players with real value left at the club to sell. Actually think he is ready for a top 4 club. Improved his concentration over 90 minutes to become an excellent goalkeeper.

I may be the only one but couldn't care less if the season started in 6 months time. Probably the lowest pre season I have felt about my club. Pickford saved us points last season to stay up. If he goes? I do fear we are done. We will have not one solid player in the spine of the team. The club cannot compete in the transfer market and really why would you come?

All we can do is keep marching on together and hopefully that's enough to stay up!

Mark Andersson
22 Posted 10/07/2023 at 09:05:27
Ian, we are marching together to the Championship.
Si Pulford
23 Posted 10/07/2023 at 10:24:38
Cheap back up with Jordan Pickford firmly number one. Makes sense as Begovic was on good money but barely played.

Bigger fish to fry in our current state.

Clive Rogers
24 Posted 10/07/2023 at 10:51:11
I thought he looked competent and a good prospect when he played for us. No objections to him being back up.
Ray Smith
25 Posted 10/07/2023 at 11:53:35
A lot of doom and gloom on this thread!

I accept that we will be trading in the bargain basement and a couple of loans, but there are deals going on behind the scenes that probably hinge on one deal elsewhere occurring, freeing up other players in our price range.

I can see us bringing in players on the last day of the transfer window, as usual.

My real concern is that Kenwright is still with us, poking his nose in, dining with his mates, doing deals behind Dyche's and Thelwell's backs. Until he goes, we are where we are.

I have faith in Dyche and he will hopefully get it right, and we will see progress this season. Top half is best we can hope for, for now. 8th should be the target, and bolster in the January window.

I await the missiles that follow!

Ever the optimist, been an Evertonian since 1964.

James Flynn
26 Posted 10/07/2023 at 13:55:47
Ray (25) - What missiles? Why?

This: "I have faith in Dyche and he will hopefully get it right, and we will see progress this season. Top half is best we can hope for, for now. 8th should be the target, and bolster in the January window."

For this next season, that's a reasonable target. Pretty aggressive one really.

Good stuff.

Alan Rooney
27 Posted 10/07/2023 at 14:49:14
I get Dyche's cunning plan for next season. With no budget for strikers, he's planning on us getting to the end of the season on 38 points by playing three keepers at the back.
Ray Smith
28 Posted 10/07/2023 at 21:23:41
James @26,

Thanks for your comments, if I had a wish, what I said would be realised!

Thanks again.

Ever the optimist!!!

Steve Carter
29 Posted 11/07/2023 at 04:50:52
Like a new signing.

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