Everton announce exit as defender completes loan transfer
Everton have confirmed that young defender Reece Welch has exited Goodison Park to join KMSK Deinze on loan for the remainder of the season.
The Toffees confirmed via their academy page on X (6 September) that the 20-year-old was set to join up with the Belgian side after the close of the British transfer window in August.
Welch spent the first half of last season on loan in League Two with Forest Green Rovers where he picked up two assists in 24 appearances before returning to Merseyside to play a regular role in the Premier League 2.
The Blues “starlet” [Give Me Sport, 28 August] had been linked with a whole host of different sides both in England and further afield during the summer transfer window.
Have Everton made any new signings after the transfer window?
It has been clear over the summer that Welch isn’t exactly close to making an impact in Sean Dyche’s first-team squad at this moment in time and the signing of Jake O’Brien will have only further blocked his pathway.
Centre-back is arguably one of the most well-stocked positions in the Blues squad at this moment in time, with the likes of Jarrad Branthwaite, James Tarkowski, O’Brien and Michael Keane all fighting it out for a starting role.
With another relegation battle also seemingly on the cards this season at Goodison Park, opportunities for Dyche to make changes to his squad and hand young players chances are likely going to be few and far between.
Hopefully, the move to Belgium will help the 20-year-old begin to find his feet in senior football after a difficult spell at Forest Green last term. It won’t be easy moving away from the UK, but it could be exactly what he needs to kick off his development.
If he has a strong season, maybe he will be knocking on Dyche’s door for a more senior role next pre-season.
In other Everton news, the Toffees have already been told whether or not Graham Potter would replace Sean Dyche at Goodison Park
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