Jake O'Brien has opened up on life at Everton, playing at right-back and living with Type 1 diabetes
Jake O'Brien
Jake O'Brien (Image: (Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images))
View 2 Images
Jake O’Brien has claimed he was 'never close' to leaving Everton during the summer. O’Brien spent the whole of last season playing right-back, even though he joined the club from Lyon as a centre-back during the 2024 summer transfer window.
However, after losing his place at right-back to Merlin Rohl at the start of the current campaign, it was believed that the Blues would listen to offers for the Republic of Ireland international. But while acknowledging that right-back is not his preferred role, O’Brien has moved to shut down rumours that he wanted to leave the club during the summer.
“There was nothing in that,” the defender told the Daily Mail. “I was never close to leaving.
Make sure you never miss the latest Everton news and opinion by makingLiverpool Echo one of your Google preferred sources.
READ MORE: Jack Grealish has been handed a second chance at Everton – now he must prove he deserves it
“People know I'm not a natural right back but I'll play wherever I need to, to help the team. We're only a small squad so it’s important everyone chips in.
“There’s a lot of different right backs. I see Arsenal have centre backs playing at right back so I can take pointers from them but then again, I am 6ft 6in so I’m not the average shape.”
O’Brien joined schoolchildren living with Type 1 diabetes at Finch Farm for a workshop delivered by Everton in the Community (EitC).
The defender shared his own experiences of the condition after being diagnosed as a teenager ahead of World Diabetes Day today.
Jake O'Brien of Everton dribbles the ball during the Carabao Cup round 3 match between Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, United Kingdom, on September 16, 2026. (Photo by Alfie Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Jake O'Brien in action for Everton earlier this season(Image: Alfie Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
View 2 Images
“I was diagnosed at the age of 16,” he said. “I’d been drinking a lot of water, feeling more tired than usual and losing a lot of weight, despite trying hard to gain it.
“My parents took me to the doctors as a precaution, but my blood sugar levels were so high that I was then sent to the hospital and quickly diagnosed there.
“I didn’t know much about the condition and was looking up who else had been diagnosed. I think it’s really important for these young kids to know they can do anything they set their minds to.”
The Republic of Ireland internatioanl also revealed he was just a day away from a coma.
"I was told I was a day away from a coma.," he revealed. "If I had gone to sleep that night without having gone to the doctor, who knows?"
O'Brien also revealed went into hospital that night weighing 53kg, but post-diagnosis he was back up to 60kg, and within two years he had put on 30kg.
"Yeah, 30kg," he said. "I know it's not normal. It must have been some grocery bill for Mum, but I was motivated to put on the weight, going to the gym all the time.
"I was a bit naive about it all. I never expected to have anything but once I knew what diabetes was, I didn’t wallow in it, I took it as a positive. Everything just clicked for me physically. I just thought, 'Right, now I know what’s wrong, I can get on with my life again'
"It was a pain going in and out of hospital, but I just took it as education and wanted to get my sport back on track.
"My family are... I wouldn't say cold, but matter of fact. Supportive, obviously, but they are all sporty too, so it was just, 'Get on with it'."