Everton have just announced that Jarrad Branthwaite has signed a new contract.
Jarrad Branthwaite has committed his future to Everton until 2030, which near enough rules out the possibility of a summer departure.
Branthwaite had been linked to Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, but David Moyes and his chiefs have managed to convince him to stay.
The 23-year-old was previously valued at £70m, with his old contract due to expire in 2027, but now Everton have the power to slap a triple-figure price tag on him.
With all that said, here are the pros and con of Branthwaite penning a new deal on Merseyside.
Everton and Roma owner Dan Friedkin.
Photo by Fabrizio Corradetti/LiveMedia/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Winners of Jarrad Branthwaite’s new Everton contract
The Friedkin Group
When the Friedkin Group first took over Everton, they carried out a 100-day review around Finch Farm to assess what needed addressing.
One of their main findings was the fairly powerless position they had in retaining Branthwaite’s signature in forthcoming windows.
Indeed, this summer was the final chance to cash in on the Carlisle-born defender for his true market value, so it seemed there was somewhat of an ultimatum: get him on a new contract or sanction his sale.
MORE EVERTON STORIES
They’ve managed to achieve the preferred outcome and now have a major asset on their books.
David Moyes
Branthwaite is widely regarded as Everton’s best defender, and in fact, some would argue there are few better in Europe, let alone the Premier League.
Moyes shares that same sentiment and recognises how important he is heading into the new Premier League season at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Scotsman wants to build the team around Branthwaite, and now he can do exactly that as he ramps up his transfer plans this month.
Loser of Jarrad Branthwaite’s new Everton contract
Maxime Esteve
Perhaps the only loser in Branthwaite’s new deal is Burnley centre-back Maxime Esteve.
Everton were lining up Esteve as the potential replacement for Branthwaite, who for a while, looked like he could be heading for the exit door.
But, that £30m deal is now almost certainly off the table, so the Frenchman won’t be heading to Finch Farm anytime soon.