Jarrad Branthwaite signs new five-year deal with Everton

Now to find some more!

Now that we have had a few wage thieves move on, and out, as their Con Tricks have expired, we can hopefully recruit some genuine players to complement the existing quality that we have.

We can dream. Great that things start to be moving in the right direction.

Reading his comments on EFC, he has every confidence in Moyes and the new owners, now for more big signings.

I've been of the assumption that work is going on in the background and this proves that thought. Getting existing contracts tied up; Coleman, Branthwaite, now for Gana.

Barry likely to be coming in, followed by others.

It seems to me that those in control are working behind the scenes, and despite our impatience and wanting daily updates, they will announce something when there is something to be announced.

Great news to have him on a 5-year contract. I hope that, as our future captain, we get to see him lift a trophy.

What a classy player.

Of course, it could just be a ploy to develop maximum leverage on the transfer fee when the next 'big club' inevitably comes sniffing around... enabling TFG to make a massive killing in the transfer market and solve the PSR woes in one fell swoop!

Only time will tell…

Best young centre back for years in my opinion, hopefully a statement of intent which will attract further quality additions. UTFT

It shows he believes in project Everton and the way forward

I notice that it doesn't even get a mention on Sky's sports page.

They must be so sad and disappointed that they cannot report that he is leaving for Man Utd, as they falsely reported a few weeks ago.

Pickford and Jarrad can form the spine of a decent team if we get signings right in the next few windows.

Comments have been made on other threads about the type and quality of players we can hope to attract.

If we can sign two or three more players of this quality then we will start to look a good option for others.

Thank you Jarrad, and thanks to the club, keep this going now please...

Now just the rest of the herd to round up.

There's a happy feeling with Everton I'd argue right now. New stadium, relegation flirting behind us, new ownership...

We're coming back. Signing Jarrad is proof of that.

If he goes to a top club now he's not guaranteed a starting spot. If he has a huge year for us, makes the England squad, the sky is the limit for him and he might command the £75-100M we all know he's worth. The hope is that by that time our future is looking so bright that he wants to stay with us no matter who comes calling. All the more reason we get these next few signings right.

No matter, he deserves this new contract and it bodes well for us even if we have to sell in the next couple of seasons.

All of that. Best of both worlds. He's an Everton player, but if he excels like we hope and ends up being tempted away, the club are in a position to get a good fee for him.

Sound business.

If this was last summer, he would not have signed and we would have been at the mercy of the vultures.

I am with Danny - this is a potential captain of Everton Football Club and with good management of team resources could well be lifting a trophy at some point in his Everton career.

With O'Brien, we have an excellent centre back pairing, both physical and capable.

Even more pleased that someone was able to cope without the promise of Champions League money.

Shades of Bobby Moore IMHO

He is only going to get better and he is a foundational talent. Now we just need to surround him with new, quality, faces.

If we can persuade one of the brightest young stars in England to sign a 5-year contract on the basis, as he says, of the very bright future he sees under Moyes and TFG, it gives me hope that others will follow his lead.

I was thinking exactly the same :-))

No clauses introduced during these negotiations?

Wish Calvert-Lewin had done the same.

I'm surprised the big boys haven't pushed the boat out to be honest, he's absolutely top notch.

Kudos for the management and owners too, for making the offer for a 5-year contract. COYBs.

He's now an Everton player on a 5-year contract. Let's enjoy him continuing in an Everton shirt.

He's going to play a big part in our immediate future. I've watched him these past couple of seasons and he plays way above his years. You would think he was 28, not just turned 23.

This announcement, alongside a clearing out of deadwood on inflated contracts, gives me confidence that sensible additions will follow so that the squad is stronger, and better balanced, at the start of the coming season than it was at the end of the last.

However, looking at the first team photos on the OS there are now only 18 players (with 2 yet to sign). We need more incoming as we don't even have a team at the moment!

Why sign Jarrad when we could have a full international like Michael Keane.

A top-level player who could walk into the squad ( then the first team and then captain) of any top 5 team in any league worldwide.

In a stadium that will soon become world-renowned not for its location but for its atmosphere and support!

Soon, players will be telling their agents get them there to play with this guy!

Happy happy day that will be seen as pivotal in the future.

Last season, 11 Premier League games and 3 goals.

After Calvert-Lewin's exit, this is exactly the message the club needs to put out there. Build for the future and scrap the sentimentality of the past. Get some decent players in and around him.

Oh, and get Gana to sign!

Thanks for bursting everyone's bubble, you took 39 mins to spoil it all.

Build a winning team around him.

Stuff England 100%.

If he gets picked, lovely and good luck.

This is far more important – it's Everton.

We're beginning to assemble a bloody good team.

I don't hype players at all, but he really has potential to be a modern Bobby Moore.

As everybody else has said – great news indeed! Even MK is silently pleased – honest!

If we can add similar talent to the team along with the decent players we already have (Gueye, Mykolenko, McNeil, Tarkowski, Garner) we will be a force.

Personally I think the priority is the right side – a top class right mid and a first-choice right-back.

We fill those vacancies and I think we're definitely capable of Top 8.

Chant with me now: Weeaahhh Weeaahhh Weeaahhh...

Big season coming up for Branthwaite. Extra incentive is he will be going all out to make the England squad so hopefully adding even more to his already solid performances for Everton.

If there is genuine optimism and players are happy to sign contracts that don't have all sorts of get-out clauses, then someone is doing things right at the club which gives us a great foundation to build on.

Incidentally, I don't have an issue with players ensuring their options are protected but I think happy, optimistic players might not require extra assurances.

I believe with Jarrad's signing being the best of the three and Gana to follow soon… then a striker, full back or winger next.

A great player in anyone's team — so bloody glad it's ours. Thanks Jarrad.

ESPN reported five minutes ago that Everton have finalized an agreement to sign Thierno Barry. They bargained Villarreal down from the €40 million release clause to a €35 million deal, plus future add-ons.

And the club have agreed a four-year contract with Barry.

What a great time to be an Evertonian.

In a worst case scenario and he becomes disillusioned with yet another season of struggle we'll be in the driving seat.

He's 29, plays for Scotland and is the son of former Norwich City keeper Bryan Gunn. 16 caps for Scotland.

That's the kind of legacy thing they do in Aussie Rules football, where the dad's team has first call on the son. Rare thing in footy.

Agreed, Mark Murphy @56! Onwards and upwards!

I love Jarrad and am happy he is committed to the cause. We need to build up the squad with more Moneyball signings, steer clear of pensioners. Onwards and upwards, Blues!