Jarrad Branthwaite has put pen to paper on a fresh five-year deal, solidifying his commitment to Everton. The young defender has resisted interests from other clubs, including two unsuccessful offers from Manchester United last summer, and has now been locked in till 2030 with the Toffees, marking a huge win for the club.
He was even linked with a shock move to Liverpool, as the Reds consider adding to their backline this summer. It is unclear how serious that interest was, with Marc Guehi now emerging as a top target for Arne Slot, after Jarell Quansah sealed his move to Bayer Leverkusen.
Branthwaite was awarded Everton’s Young Player of the Year for the 2024-25 season, an accolade he previously secured along with the Player of the Year title for 2023-24, owing to his outstanding inaugural season.
The 23 year old defender expressed his joy upon confirming the new deal: "I'm over the moon,. It's been something we've been talking about since the end of the season and to get it signed now is something I'm really excited about.
"The trust the club's put in me and how many games I've played over the past two seasons has made it quite an easy decision for me to stay and to keep progressing as a player.
"I know the club. I feel loved by the players – we've got a good group here – and the fans. Over the past few years, I've seen the impact the fans have on us as a team and how much it means to them.
"And, obviously, with the new stadium we've got here, the new ownership and the new manager, it's an exciting project and it's something I want to be part of.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Fanatics Official Sports Apparel — Liverpool
"Moving to the new stadium together and having that first game at home is something we're all looking forward to. We want to go again and push for a good season."
The announcement is a significant lift for manager David Moyes, who will retain an essential defensive asset as the club embarks on its inaugural season at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Moyes expressed his pleasure, stating: "We're delighted Jarrad has committed his future to us. He is still only 23 and his best years are hopefully still ahead of him."
"We believe he can have a huge role to play in an exciting new era at the Football Club."
Liverpool is likely to step up its pursuit of a new central defender in the coming weeks after it was confirmed that Quansah had finalized his switch to Leverkusen.