centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite is to undergo an operation on Tuesday after he suffered a significant new injury setback, just as manager was hopeful of his most valuable player stepping up his return.
The 23-year-old has not played for the Blues all season, but confirmed he was back on the grass in his pre-match press conference on Friday morning to preview the trip to Manchester City the following day with the club then releasing a series of photographs before the weekend, showing taking part in training with team-mates, both in a game situation and while attached to a resistance band.
However, he is now facing a prolonged period on the sidelines with the club issuing the following statement: "Everton Football Club can confirm Jarrad Branthwaite has experienced a complication in his recovery from a hamstring injury.
"Following specialist consultation, it has been determined the defender will undergo a surgical procedure tomorrow to address the issue. Branthwaite will commence a structured rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the club’s medical team following the operation."
Branthwaite's wait to take to the turf in a competitive action for the first time since signing a new five-year contract on July 2 therefore continues. He was snapped up for the Blues as a 17-year-old in January 2020 to officially become the first signing of tenure after catching the eye of director of football .
At the time he had played just nine League Two matches for home city club Carlisle United but after loan spells at Blackburn Rovers and PSV Eindhoven – where he was reunited with Brands – he returned to Goodison Park at the start of the 2023/24 season to establish himself as a first team regular. The breakthrough campaign saw Branthwaite play 41 matches in all competitions – including 35 in the – score the opening goal in a 2-0 win over Liverpool for Everton’s first Merseyside Derby success at Goodison for 13-and-a-half years and finish with a first full cap when coming on as a substitute in the 3-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James’ Park on June 3.
That summer, he was subject to a brace of transfer bids from Manchester United but after offering an initial £35million plus add ons in June and then £45million plus add ons the following month, they did not come close to forcing the hand of Blues top brass who were always determined to keep hold of their prize asset.
Given the £80million fee that Manchester United paid for Harry Maguire in 2019, the £75million Chelsea paid for Wesley Fofana in 2022 and the £77million Manchester City paid for Josko Gvardiol in 2023, Everton considered Branthwaite to be in the same bracket, especially given the premium for both left-footed defenders and homegrown talent.
Having committed his future to the club until 2030, he played in the Blues’ first two friendlies at Accrington Stanley and Blackburn Rovers ahead of 2025/26, but stayed behind in the UK when the team went to the USA for the Premier League Summer Series. Branthwaite then returned for the inaugural first-team game in front of fans at against Roma on August 9 but left the field in the 79th minute with the hamstring problem that has kept him out since.
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