Everton Sign Jake O’Brien

Everton have completed the transfer of Jake O’Brien.

Everton agreed terms with Lyon over the weekend for the 6ft 6in defender, and the 23-year-old has agreed a four-year-deal.

O’Brien only joined the Ligue 1 club from Crystal Palace last year, but went on to play 27 times in the French top flight, scoring four goals.

“I’m buzzing and so happy to have signed for Everton,” O’Brien told evertontv. “I’ve been dreaming of this kind of move in the Premier League, with such a historic club. It’s a very exciting move for me.

“Everton is a huge club with a lot of history behind it and there’s a big future as well.

“When the transfer window opened there were other clubs in for me but there was only one club I wanted to go to – it was Everton.

“They’ve shown the faith in me so now it’s my turn to show why on the pitch.

“I’m a ball-playing centre half, fast, I like to attack in both boxes and I like to bring a bit of excitement.

“You see how Sean Dyche develops young centre-halves and what he has done for Jarrad [Branthwaite]. The way he’s going now, the season he’s had in the Premier League, it’s obviously something I look at and something I want to replicate.

“This season, I just want to play as many games as I can and help the Club get higher up the table. It’s an exciting time and it’d be good to end the season – the last season at Goodison Park – as high up the table as we can.

“We’ve then got the new stadium, which looks great. Not just that but we’re shaping a team for the future and can push on.”