Jake O’Brien authorised to travel to England as Everton agree sell-on clause – L’Equipe
Lyon have granted Jake O’Brien permission to travel to England on Saturday to finalise a move to Everton, according to L’Equipe.
The French newspaper reported via their website on Saturday (27 July) that Lyon are set to complete their “first big summer sale” after agreeing a deal worth £16.9million with the Ligue 1 club also adding in a 10 per cent sell-on clause.
It is understood that Nottingham Forest made a bigger bid for O’Brien but the Republic of Ireland defender rejected a move to the City Ground in favour of a switch to Everton.
Everton set to strike signing No 5 as O’Brien bid accepted
Sean Dyche and Kevin Thelwell have done well here.
Not only is this a good signing to add to Dyche’s defence but to also beat Nottingham Forest – even though they offered more money to Lyon – says a lot about the size of the club and the direction they’re going in.
Of course, the Toffees might have offered higher wages to O’Brien but the Blues are a Premier League mainstay and while that status has come under threat in recent years, Forest’s position in England’s top flight is a lot more precarious.
O’Brien is 23 years old and doesn’t have a great deal of experience to his name.
He signed for Crystal Palace from Corky City in 2020 but didn’t make a single appearance for them and was sent out on loans to Swindon and Belgian side RWD Molenbeek before joining Lyon permanently last year.
But such was the impression that O’Brien made, he was thrown into their first team and ended up playing 27 times in Ligue 1 last season as Lyon finished sixth and reached the Coupe de France final.
Everton have got a good young defender here.
In other Everton news, a Sky Sports journalist has shared an update on three potential arrivals on Merseyside.
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