Jarrad Branthwaite has proved to be a real standout star in Everton’s start to the season, attracting interest from Europe’s biggest clubs.
The 21-year-old Englishman has had an exceptional last few months, even earning the honour of captaining his country on under-21 level.
Branthwaite led his team to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Northern Ireland last week.
Everton are the second most in-form team in the league, only behind Branthwaite admirers Manchester United. This is partly down to the sturdy defence that Sean Dyche has developed, with Branthwaite and James Tarkowski at the heart of it.
This level of performance at such a young age has not gone unnoticed, with Premier League giants Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United all monitoring his situation.
According to TEAMtalk, Branthwaite is tops Erik Ten Hag’s list of targets for an overhaul of the back line. It is expected that he would replace former Manchester United captain Harry Maguire whose £30 million transfer to West Ham collapsed in the summer but is expected to depart the club this season.
Branthwaite is the smartest signing United can make in years. I’ll fully trust this rebuild if we bring him in. Can’t let him join a rival
— B🥤 (@utdbrxy) November 23, 2023
How did Jarrad Branthwaite get to where he is today?
Branthwaite spent his early years at League Two Carlisle United between the years of 2013 and 2020, where his senior career also started in 2019.
January 2020: Despite only making nine appearances, in January of 2020, Everton signed the youngster to a 2-and-a-half-year contract that would keep him at the club until the end of June 2022.
November 2020: Branthwaite’s international career started in the last international break of 2020 when he received his first international call-up to the England u19s.
January 2021: At the midpoint of the of the 2020/21 season, Everton explored options for the then 18-year-old. Branthwaite signed with Blackburn Rovers until the conclusion of the season. Immediately after joining, he started nine straight games but an ankle injury on April 21 put an end to this streak.
August and September 2021: Branthwaite then received another England call up in August of 2021, but this time into the England u20s. On September 6 he made his debut for the U20s in a 6-1 win over Romania U20s at St George’s Park.
December 2021: After his recovery and return to Everton Branthwaite made his first Premier League start of the season and scored his first Everton goal in a 1–1 away draw against Chelsea.
2022/23 season: The next season Everton again began to look at loan options for the youngster in the 2022/23 season. The opportunity came at PSV Eindhoven who signed Branthwaite on a season-long loan. PSV fell short in the league and came runners-up in the Eredivisie, seven points behind Feyenoord. In the 2023 KNVB Cup Final, Branthwaite scored an own goal to put Ajax ahead. A Thorgan Hazard goal in the 67th minute drew the teams level. After extra-time PSV would eventually win on penalties.
June 2023: On June 14 Branthwaite was included in the England squad for the European Under-21 Championship a tournament the Young Lions ultimately went on to win.
