Jake O'Brien D Everton b.2001

[Olé Olé]

It is some going to be where he is. It isn't long since he was on loan in League Two. Then he was in the Belgian second division. He looked much better for Ireland in his two senior caps than I ever remember him at under 21 level. He really must have improved a lot.

I reckon if I go back far enough in this thread people, me included, were apprehensive about the Lyon move. It could have been construed as a bit of multi club fiddling. I think Toulouse bid and that made sense as a next step at the time and might have made Palace consider the move to an affiliate in the same league.

Anyway, hopefully he takes well to the Premier League. Clearly has impressed plenty scouts across Europe this season.

[liamoo11]

It is some going to be where he is. It isn't long since he was on loan in League Two. Then he was in the Belgian second division. He looked much better for Ireland in his two senior caps than I ever remember him at under 21 level. He really must have improved a lot.

I reckon if I go back far enough in this thread people, me included, were apprehensive about the Lyon move. It could have been construed as a bit of multi club fiddling. I think Toulouse bid and that made sense as a next step at the time and might have made Palace consider the move to an affiliate in the same league.

Anyway, hopefully he takes well to the Premier League. Clearly has impressed plenty scouts across Europe this season.

Yeah it's a massive move for him, 5 year deal likely a massive pay increase and set up.financially for life. One injury could end his career he absolutely is right to take the deal

[Colbert Report]

Any idea what the fee is? I'm reading £23m! I thought Lyon bought him off Crystal Palace last summer for less than £2m.

[elatedscum]

Would rather he moved to Ajax, Brentford, Wolves etc etc. I don’t have any faith that Everton won’t be in real financial difficulty and forced to sell before the deadline or in January and possibly deducted points and in a relegation scrap.

They haven’t found a new owner and have borrowed an insane amount of cash from various prospective buyers. I think the latest loans will probably cover the stadium build but I dunno, I’d avoid it if I had similar options in the PL and in Europe.

[Jd2793]

Ajax is a step down from lyon, only way he should be moving now is up. Dream signing for dyche at least, o'brien be absolutely unstoppable from set pieces.

[seanfhear]

Ajax is a step down from lyon, only way he should be moving now is up. Dream signing for dyche at least, o'brien be absolutely unstoppable from set pieces.
Dyche did a fantastic job at Everton last year ~ ~ The most impressive performance by any manger.

[Eirambler]

I thought Lyon bought him off Crystal Palace last summer for less than £2m.

That was a sale within the same ownership group. Can't help but wonder if they had seen his potential at that point and saw an opportunity to get him first team football at a good level and also get rid of the Cork City sell on clause in the process before his transfer value sky-rocketed.

[JR89]

I doubt he went to Lyon as a work around to Cork getting minimal money on a transfer.

While Texor owns Lyon he's only a minority owner with Palace. I'd say Palace didn't have plans for O'Brien and were just happy to let him go cheap with a good sell on clause. Lyon were happy to take a punt because of the low fee

For €20M I'm surprised they didn't re-sign O'Brien. New manager prefers 3-4-3 and has been using FBs as CBs at times.

[Jd2793]

I doubt he went to Lyon as a work around to Cork getting minimal money on a transfer.

While Texor owns Lyon he's only a minority owner with Palace. I'd say Palace didn't have plans for O'Brien and were just happy to let him go cheap with a good sell on clause. Lyon were happy to take a punt because of the low fee

For €20M I'm surprised they didn't re-sign O'Brien. New manager prefers 3-4-3 and has been using FBs as CBs at times.


didnt the tv deal collapse over there? hands could have been tied a bit by that. either way exciting move and a huge jump in levels for him. really interesting to see how he gets on.

[The Fly]

I’m just glad CSAD has an actual transfer fee to include in his posts.

[JR89]

didnt the tv deal collapse over there? hands could have been tied a bit by that. either way exciting move and a huge jump in levels for him. really interesting to see how he gets on.

Oh the TV deal situation is a right **** show.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/jul/12/french-football-clubs-fearing-bankruptcy-tv-deal-ligue-1

Though I meant for €20M I'm surprised Palace didn't try bring back O'Brien. They spent a couple of million less on a 21 year old CB from Real Betis whose also had one season of top flight football.

[seanfhear]

Has this transfer to Everton actually been finalised ?

[JR89]

Has this transfer to Everton actually been finalised ?

Doing his medical tomorrow supposedly.

[Rayzor]

Not sure I believe this needing to sell narrative, they broke their transfer record to sign Niakate from forrest who is 6 yrs older and cost them more than they'll get for Jake.

[John83]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/0730/1462685-ireland-defender-obrien-completes-l17m-move-to-everton/

[Eirambler]

Not sure I believe this needing to sell narrative, they broke their transfer record to sign Niakate from forrest who is 6 yrs older and cost them more than they'll get for Jake.

Yeah, that's the bit I don't really get from Lyon's point of view. I get selling an up and coming player for a massive profit to a Premier League team, but it doesn't really make sense to, in the same transfer window, spend more again buying a 28 year old from the same league who is unlikely to generate any profit in future. Presumably Niakhate is more "ready to go" for the coming season, but as a longer term investment it doesn't really make sense for Lyon.

[pineapple stu]

Would it be a football accounting thing?

Crystallise a €16m profit and expense the new guy over six years for whatever it is - €18m over six years say. So a €13m profit for this year's accounts.

Football accounting can be quite weird I believe.

[elatedscum]

None of it really makes too much sense. Niakhate signed for £27m on a 4 year deal, which is amortised at £6.75m / year. Jake was sold for £16.5m (€19.5m), so £15.8m in profit (when you remove the £200k already accounted for).

So for this years accounts, Jake gains you £15.8m and Niakhate costs you £6.75m -

I dunno, maybe they thought they could get more like £25-30m for Jake when they signed Niakhate?

[samhaydenjr]

Do Cork City get anything out of this?

[OMTY]

Do Cork City get anything out of this?

I saw it reported that they get 1.5% as a development club. So that should equate to 300k.

[Diggs246]

Will he start without question for everton? If so it's an amazing move imo. Will be interesting to see who HH starts for us at BG. Some talent there

Andrew O
Nathan Collins
Jake
Dara
Also Egan will be back

[JR89]

I don't think so because Dyche when at Burnley eased Tarkowski and Mee into his starting XI. Dyche might change things up and go 3 at the back but think he'll be third choice CB replacing Branthwaite when he leaves.

[SkStu]

I saw it reported that they get 1.5% as a development club. So that should equate to 300k.

about 4 weeks of Jake's wages at Everton so..

[seanfhear]

about 4 weeks of Jake's wages at Everton so..
is it really too late for me to make it in football ? !

[liamoo11]

about 4 weeks of Jake's wages at Everton so..

Yeah he definable should have refused to leave Lyon

[joey B]

Scored on his debut in a friendly against Preston.

[elatedscum]

Bit worrying he can’t get into this Everton team while Branthwait is injured. Last week Keane and Tarkowski were both preferred to O’Brien. They lost 3-0 to Brighton.

Dyche opted for the same pair again today and they lost 4-0 to Spurs

[Eirambler]

It's all about Premier League experience though, there's nothing more important than that mythical Premier League experience and O'Brien doesn't have any!

He's only just signed, he'll presumably start the league cup game midweek and hopefully given how badly Everton have been doing he should get his chance in the league before too long. I'm not overly concerned about it and you could easily argue that it has been to his benefit missing the first two games given how they've gone.

[JR89]

Dyche always seems to take his time when introducing new CBs into his team.

[liamoo11]

Bit worrying he can’t get into this Everton team while Branthwait is injured. Last week Keane and Tarkowski were both preferred to O’Brien. They lost 3-0 to Brighton.

Dyche opted for the same pair again today and they lost 4-0 to Spurs

I'd say that's a n excellent start to the season for o brien

[seanfhear]

Looks like Everton needs some decent defenders.

[mark12345]

Looks like Everton needs some decent defenders.

I would be looking for a return trip to Lyon if I was him

[irishfan86]

Dyche is a manager who rarely rotates. If you’re in, you’ll stay in. If you’re out, good luck to you. O’Brien needs to take his chance well when he gets it.

[texidub]

It's set up well for Jake to come in and improve things. That said, Everton's problems clearly more widespread than the defence though

[yurt]

Hopefully we see him repeat the exact same trick as last season. Come into a struggling team and transform their results. Haven't watched Everton play but you'd have to assume after conceading so many goals that they'll have to consider a change in CBs.

[Predator]

O'Brien has described himself as a "ball-playing centre-half" on a number of occasions. It makes the decision to join Everton all the more confusing, albeit you can see the obvious appeal of playing in the Premier League. Sean Dyche teams aren't really renowned for their defenders' ball-playing abilities. Rather they are lauded for their out and out defensive traits, plus their capacity to score from set-pieces. So, perhaps O'Brien is a signing for Everton's post-Dyche future.

[passinginterest]

O'Brien plays a great long diagonal from the back. I think he'll suit Dyche's team once he gets his chance. As was said above, hopefully it works out like Lyon and his chance in the team coincides with improved results.

[Drummerboy2]

With their star defender out injured and Jake still not in team, it would make me wonder. Brantwaite (sp) may not get sold because of the injury, and assuming Jake was bought as his replacement. Seemingly Dyche doesn't think Jake is ready for PL. Disappointing all round.

[SkStu]

I dont think its that necessarily Drummer. Dyche did the same last season - started Keane and Tarkowski before gradually transitioning Branthwaite in permanently around game 4 or 5. I do think that Jake was signed to replace Branthwaite next summer (I really dont think theyll sell him this window; if anyone goes it will be DCL I'd say) but ahead of Keane this year. The injury to Branthwaite probably caused Dyche to go more conservative and not want to go with Jake from Day 1 ahead of Keane. We'll see how it goes but I am confident he'll see plenty of game time this year.

[brine3]

Wasn't following the latest transfers and just noticed that this guy went to Everton.

I'm a bit disappointed. Lyon is a great club to continue development at, yet he opts for the Premier League meat grinder.

[seanfhear]

Wasn't following the latest transfers and just noticed that this guy went to Everton.

I'm a bit disappointed. Lyon is a great club to continue development at, yet he opts for the Premier League meat grinder.Must be the money.

[pineapple stu]

Everton ship three more goals, this time to throw a 2-0 lead away and lose 3-2. That was enough for O'Brien to be brought off the bench, coming on for Gueye (I think) with 25 to go. Was booked and couldn't stop them letting that third in, but still, hopefully a foot in the door there.

13 goals against in four games for Everton this year, as they stay bottom of the league with no points.

[seanfhear]

Everton ship three more goals, this time to throw a 2-0 lead away and lose 3-2. That was enough for O'Brien to be brought off the bench, coming on for Gueye (I think) with 25 to go. Was booked and couldn't stop them letting that third in, but still, hopefully a foot in the door there.

13 goals against in four games for Everton this year, as they stay bottom of the league with no points.
That's some goal conceding from good positions ~ Surely O'Brien has to be getting in that team, soon / now !

[Eirambler]

You'd have to wonder how long Dyche sticks with Michael Keane, he's such a liability for them. O'Brien only came on because Everton switched to three at the back as Villa had two up front. Then Villa scored the third (nothing to do with O'Brien) and Everton had to push, so they went to a back four and O'Brien played right back, which isn't his position. So he was only actually at centre back for a few minutes.

[Stuttgart88]

I thought he did well after coming on. Won 3 clean tackles without going to ground and from RB he carried the ball out of defence very positively before sliding a ball through to Calvert-Lewin who hit the underside of the bar. He has a confident demeanour about him.

(Edit: I misremembered - his wasn't the pass that fed in DCL, it was the pass before)

[pineapple stu]

Started tonight in the League Cup against Southampton - no guarantee he'll keep his place for the next league game of course, but they only conceded once (a 1-1 draw) so that can't hurt his chances of getting into the team more often.

Though it won't be in the League Cup, as they lost on penalties

[Eirambler]

He will learn a lot watching Michael Keane from the bench this season. Not necessarily good things, but he'll learn a lot.

[pineapple stu]

Good news - Keane dropped to the bench for the visit of Palace today.

Bad news - Jarrad Branthwaite starts instead, with O'Brien still on the bench.

(Potentially good news - Everton already 1-0 down)

[joey B]

Good news - Keane dropped to the bench for the visit of Palace today.

Bad news - Jarrad Branthwaite starts instead, with O'Brien still on the bench.

(Potentially good news - Everton already 1-0 down)

It looks difficult to see where he’s going to play much barring injury to other players,that was the first time Branthwaite was in the squad and went straight into the starting lineup while Tarkowski is the captain so is going to play….

[Demesne Lad]

Dyche is a manager who rarely rotates. If you’re in, you’ll stay in. If you’re out, good luck to you. O’Brien needs to take his chance well when he gets it.

Goodisonnews.com repeated on 1st January the Irish tabloid story that Everton will block any approaches for Jake O’Brien in January "despite the defender being out of favour under Sean Dyche." The same website are today tipping O'Brien (34 minutes of PL time in 2024/5) to get a start against Peterborough Utd in the FA Cup.