Michael Ball has claimed Everton made a huge transfer masterstroke when they signed Jarrad Branthwaite in 2020.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Ball has praised his former club for snapping up the ‘superb’ defender while he was at Carlisle United.
Born in Cumbria, Branthwaite joined his boyhood club when he was eleven years old. Seven months after he was first named on the bench, the youngster made his League Two debut in October 2019.
Branthwaite only made 12 appearances in all competitions for Carlisle before attracting interest from some big clubs.
The likes of Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Celtic were all credited with interest in Branthwaite, however it was Everton that eventually signed him on an initial two-and-a-half-year deal for only £1 million.
The Toffees had initially tried with a £500,000 bid for the centre-back but were forced to pay double – a decision that they certainly won’t regret now.
While other Premier League clubs perhaps thought coughing up the cash for a 17-year-old wasn’t worth it, Ball admits Everton made a brilliant decision in committing to their pursuit of the defender.
“The news that Jarrad Branthwaite had committed his long-term future to the club by signing a new contract was just what we Everton supporters wanted to hear,” Ball told the ECHO.
“The defender has been superb so far this season and his performances have really caught the eye.
“The thing with Jarrad is that he was also someone who was highly regarded when he was at Carlisle United. Someone who was being watched by a lot of clubs.
“However, you could say that Everton are reaping the rewards from making the jump and signing him when they did.
“He has also massively benefited from going out on loan, first at Blackburn Rovers, then at PSV Eindhoven. As a former PSV player myself, I know how tough it is to play for the Dutch giants.
“They expect a lot from their side, but Jarrad has definitely benefited from playing men’s football on a regular basis over the last season and a half, and you can’t help but feel he is only going to get better the more he plays.”
Invest in youth
Everton brought Jarrad Branthwaite to the club in a season where they signed Alex Iwobi, Moise Kean, Andre Gomes, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Fabian Delph, Djibril Sidibe and Jonas Lossl. Definitely a mixed bag.
Bar Lossl (free transfer), the 21-year-old was the cheapest of the lot and shows exactly why the Toffees should continue investing in their youth. They have been known for making some horrific signings for big money in recent years, but signing these young prospects could be a lot more beneficial in the future.
Albeit more expensive than Branthwaite, Youssef Chermiti’s arrival is one that shows Everton’s recruitment is heading in the right direction. The squad is looking a lot more youthful than in previous years and shows a lot more promise.
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