Season › 2024-25 › News Everton add O'Brien as latest summer signing Lyndon Lloyd 30/07/2024 52comments | Jump to last Jake O'Brien has become Everton's latest close season signing in a £17m deal from Olympique Lyonnais. The 23-year-old defender has signed a four-year contract with a reported club option for a fifth as he follows Tim Iroegbunam, Jack Harrison, Iliman Ndiaye and Jesper Lindstrøm through the door this summer. O'Brien had been linked with the Blues for much of the summer as speculation swirled around the future of Jarrad Branthwaite but Director of Football, Kevin Thelwell, has pushed through with the transfer of the Irishman even though the young England star looks likely to remain at Goodison Park. O'Brien will have a job to break up the solid partnership established by Branthwaite and James Tarkowksi, something that was regarded as a potential impediment to any move for him given that he was a regular starter for Lyon. Article continues below video content However, Everton skipper Seamus Coleman is said to have played a big role in selling the Club to his compatriot as they beat off competition from the likes of Wolves, Brentford and Ajax to land the 6'-6" player. “I’m buzzing and so happy to have signed for Everton,” O’Brien said after joining the Toffees. “I've been dreaming of this kind of move in the Premier League, with such a historic club. It's a very exciting move for me. “Everton is a huge club with a lot of history behind it and there's a big future as well. When the transfer window opened, there were other clubs in for me but there was only one club I wanted to go to – it was Everton. “They’ve shown the faith in me so now it's my turn to show why on the pitch. “Seamus has been on to me to sign for Everton! He’s a top guy, a brilliant captain, and to play under him here as well as with Ireland will be a privilege. “He’s the best captain I've ever played under. He's massively respected – not just here but in the football world in general. “I've met all of the lads in the squad and you can sense straight away that it's a tight-knit group. Obviously, having Seamus here will help me as well.” "Seamus has been on to me to sign for Everton!" — Jake O'Brien Image © Everton FC Described by former Swindon Town manager Ben Garner as "brave as a lion", O'Brien began his career at Cork City in his native Ireland before being picked up by Crystal Palace after impressing on what was initially a loan move to the Eagles' development team. He had additional loan spells at Swindon and Molenbeek in Belgium before signing for Lyon for just €1m last year where he has excelled and become a target for a handful of Premier League clubs, including Brentford, Wolves and Everton while Ajax Amsterdam had been heavily linked this month. Last season, O'Brien helped the Ligue 1 side propel themselves from relegation danger and up to a 6th-place finish, emerging as the team's second-top scorer in the process. Reader Comments (52) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () Rob Halligan 1 Posted 30/07/2024 at 17:34:23 Done deal. Confirmed on Sky Sports News. Stan Grace 2 Posted 30/07/2024 at 17:37:48 Sealed! Brent Stephens 3 Posted 30/07/2024 at 17:40:46 Apologies for being positive about Everton but the recent press release videos are quite professional. Welcome, Mr O'Brien. Billy Shears 4 Posted 30/07/2024 at 17:41:53 Delivered... Sorry folks, couldn't resist it!Another decent signing, keep it going please, Kev. John Graham 5 Posted 30/07/2024 at 17:51:46 Next, please! Mike Gaynes 6 Posted 30/07/2024 at 17:52:28 Welcome in, young man! You are already lifting our backline to new heights! Christy Ring 7 Posted 30/07/2024 at 17:55:23 Nice one, Mike! Welcome, Jake, our own Corkonian. Sam Hoare 8 Posted 30/07/2024 at 17:56:33 Very good signing potentially. Able to step in and cover for either Branthwaite or Tarkowski. Or to play alongside them.Not sure if he (or anyone) will adapt to the Premier League quite so seamlessly as Jarrad did but he has top-class potential.Possibly the best set of centre-backs we've had since Distin, Lescott and Jagielka?Pace, power, physicality and no small amount of determination. Pat Kelly 9 Posted 30/07/2024 at 17:57:31 Good to get him over the line. Shows we can still attract young talent. I expect Seamus had a word in his ear. With the help of a stepladder. Billy Shears 10 Posted 30/07/2024 at 18:05:18 A very welcome addition indeed!Jeez, we're doing some great business here...So who's in next? ... Gnoto, McKennie or both!! Denis Richardson 11 Posted 30/07/2024 at 18:08:10 Good signing by the looks of things - welcome aboard.Squad beginning to take shape. With Patterson and Mykolenko injured, we really need to sign a full-back. Surely we're not going to start the season with Coleman and Young at the back! Mike Gaynes 12 Posted 30/07/2024 at 18:12:38 Good 'un, Pat. Andy Meighan 13 Posted 30/07/2024 at 18:12:40 Welcome, Jake! Another great young talent coming in. John Raftery 14 Posted 30/07/2024 at 18:15:20 He's a big lad for 14. If he continues last season's form he could be a candidate for leading scorer. Five signings by the end of July is impressive work. Also impressive is the age profile of the newcomers. Les Moorcroft 15 Posted 30/07/2024 at 18:18:25 Welcome big man. Just waiting for the negative comments now. Steve Cotton 16 Posted 30/07/2024 at 18:21:07 Spot on Sam, let the war begin... Iain Johnston 17 Posted 30/07/2024 at 18:29:26 Nice! Exactly the the type of player we should be buying. He's young, he's improving, he's hungry & he's motivated.Very pleased with our signings to date. Jay Harris 18 Posted 30/07/2024 at 18:34:44 Just what we need and now Keane and Holgate can be sold to fund more arrivals. My only concern is why Jarrad is being left out of preseason friendlies. Is he really injured? Pat Kelly 19 Posted 30/07/2024 at 18:44:52 Jake, Jesper, Jarrad, James, Jack, Jordan, Joao, James Dale Self 20 Posted 30/07/2024 at 18:47:01 Je t'aime. Ben King 21 Posted 30/07/2024 at 18:52:21 Honestly what an (apparently) excellent signing. One for today and tomorrow. I'm so so impressed with our signings and their (seemingly upside value) Well done Thelwell and whoever is at the tiller Mal van Schaick 22 Posted 30/07/2024 at 19:12:32 Great news. Well done Thelwell for doing our business early and getting decent signings done, and those of you in the premiere league who tried to crush last season, watch and learn, you will never, ever undermine Everton again. Terry Farrell 23 Posted 30/07/2024 at 19:24:30 Pat the blue jays Andy Crooks 24 Posted 30/07/2024 at 19:38:53 This has just made my day. Brilliant news!!Seamus Coleman is, in my view the best signing we or any team ever made. So, if this lad is anything like him this is magnificent.Well done our club!!!!! Raymond Fox 25 Posted 30/07/2024 at 19:40:24 He does resemble Jarrad a lot, he seems a very good signing.I'm not sure it would be fair to ask him to fill Jarrad shoes right away though if that is the intention, I hope not, we will soon find out.I do like the recruitment so far mainly young hungry players with a point to prove. Jamie Crowley 26 Posted 30/07/2024 at 19:49:42 This is great news. Big Irish dude in the back just makes me happy.And then the voice popped in my head: "How the hell are we affording any of this???"Is there any news about another buyer? We're broke! Where are we finding this money? Or are we already spending the Friedkin moola with no means to repay it?I'm happy, but seriously concerned. Phil (Kelsall) Roberts 27 Posted 30/07/2024 at 19:54:53 Finished 2nd top scorer at OL.Replacement for DCL?? Jonathan Oppenheimer 28 Posted 30/07/2024 at 20:02:32 Any chance we play all 3 of Jake, Jarrad and James at the same time, allowing for more flexibility to play wing backs, for Patterson to have less defensive responsibility, to play McNeill on the left if Myko is injured? Just a thought.So refreshing to be upbeat about Everton. Welcome to the club, Jake! Is the tattoo rumor true? Pat Kelly 29 Posted 30/07/2024 at 20:09:00 Terry #23, good one Gaute Lie 30 Posted 30/07/2024 at 20:15:47 Good news!! John Pickles 31 Posted 30/07/2024 at 20:27:12 £60K Seamus Coleman, the gift that keeps giving. Bill Gienapp 32 Posted 30/07/2024 at 21:25:41 This seems like a seriously good signing. The dream scenario would be him and Branthwaite eventually serving as our defensive backbone for years to come, though more likely he'll be a ready-made replacement when Branthwaite inevitably moves on. Exactly the sort of recruitment strategy we should be putting in place. Robert Tressell 33 Posted 30/07/2024 at 21:38:21 I'm really pleased with how the transfer business has been shaping up. 3 new bought players, all good ages, all good prices - all of whom will rightly view Everton as a big step up and an opportunity. If they do well, each could be a fixture in the side for the next 5 years +. You can build a really good side off the back of that sort of stability. It's not going to be immediate (as the shocker at Coventry confirms) but a bit of patience could pay dividends. If Chermiti and Patterson can really kick on this season, that would accelerate the process. Jack Convery 34 Posted 30/07/2024 at 22:52:42 Big Jake - a film where Jake comes home and kicks ass for 100+ minutes - coming soon to Goodison Park. Dupont Koo 35 Posted 31/07/2024 at 04:21:55 If Jake's first season is a reminiscent of Lescott's first with the club, ie, playing out of position, but played so well that not only he perfects the new role, but also putting the specialist(s) on the bench, then I shall be perfectly happy.But Bainsey was stuck on the bench for that whole season, to the point when he nearly requested a transfer... that is something that I hope will not happen but, with Dyche's stubbornness... all I can say is "Never say Never"! Danny O’Neill 36 Posted 31/07/2024 at 06:47:40 Welcome to the club, Jake. Great to have you in the Royal Blue family.Read or listen to his interview on the official website. He comes across as a very level-headed lad. I listened on the train on the way back last night, which was like therapy.Alongside Tarkowski and Branthwaite, that's an impressive centre-back line-up if we can accommodate all three of them. Colin Glassar 37 Posted 31/07/2024 at 07:23:00 Welcome aboard, lad. Can you play right-back? Phil (Kelsall) Roberts 38 Posted 31/07/2024 at 08:35:40 Patterson needs to play or go out on loan.Look what it sid for Mr.60grand. Mike Hayes 39 Posted 31/07/2024 at 09:14:47 Another great early signing - good luck 💙 Mark Stone 40 Posted 31/07/2024 at 11:37:51 I've never seen him play, don't know much about him. Why did Crystal Palace let him go for £1M just a season ago? Alan J Thompson 41 Posted 31/07/2024 at 14:50:15 And to throw in the downer, Man Utd's £52M 18-year-old Branthwaite replacement is on crutches.Oh dear, what a shame, never mind. Robert Williams 42 Posted 31/07/2024 at 17:16:32 John, Jesus and Jehosaphat and we have a "J" class team. Anyone have a spare spinnaker? Marc Hints 43 Posted 31/07/2024 at 19:04:31 We still need an overhaul, Keane, Maupay, Holgate, McNeil, Young, Coleman. Even this season, if Garner, Harrison, Patterson don't perform, they need to go. We have a long way to go yet to see a decent team. Doing the right dealings now though. Dale Self 44 Posted 31/07/2024 at 19:11:51 McNeil? Marc Hints 45 Posted 31/07/2024 at 19:29:06 Yes, sorry Dale, don't rate him. Works hard like Harrison but that's about it. Dale Self 46 Posted 31/07/2024 at 19:38:50 Fair enough, Marc. I will take the other side of that. Brian Wilkinson 47 Posted 31/07/2024 at 20:58:50 Just a thought but, with Branthswaite, Tarkowski and O'Brien in defence, could we not use Patterson or Dixon as a wing-back? Elephant in the room would be Dyche insisting on playing Young.What a shame we let Niels Nkounkou go, he would have been ideal for a left-wing back, attacking down the left side. Pekka Harvilahti 48 Posted 31/07/2024 at 21:02:12 Great signing! Jerome Shields 49 Posted 31/07/2024 at 22:25:36 Looks like a good signing. Jay Harris 50 Posted 31/07/2024 at 22:51:39 Mark # 40,He was very young then with practically no top level experience. He has come alive at Lyon and looks very similar to Jarrad in every sense. Don't forget, we bought him for £1M. Mark Stone 51 Posted 02/08/2024 at 12:55:30 Hi Jay, yeah I understand League Two Carlisle United not being able to turn down £1M for an 18-year-old Branthwaite 4 years ago, but I just find it mad that, if O'Brien is that good, nobody at Crystal Palace could see it. He literally only left 12 months ago. We've done the same ourselves, mind, with Antonee Robinson. Ater having watched him regularly at Wigan in 2018-19 I couldn't believe it when we let him go for buttons, especially with Baines's career tapering off around the same time. Laurie Hartley 52 Posted 03/08/2024 at 12:48:04 Another goodun if this is anything to go by:https://youtu.be/_7UbNP3HozY?si=pP7qHtlnZ5tJF7G6 Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. How to get rid of these ads and support TW © ToffeeWeb