Tim Iroegbunam sends goodbye message as Everton exit confirmed
Everton are going through a significant upheaval behind the scenes under the Friedkin Group.
David Moyes has transformed the Blues’ fortunes on the pitch after replacing Sean Dyche and has given the Goodison Park outfit a 16-point buffer on the relegation zone.
With safety all but confirmed, attention has switched to the boardroom, with high-profile changes already being implemented by the new ownership.
Tim Iroegbunam sends goodbye message as Everton exit confirmed
While Everton’s Premier League status is not mathematically secure, it would take a spectacular collapse for them to fall back into survival struggles.
With the summer transfer window and the move to the new Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium on the horizon, preparations have begun for the new era.
The biggest change so far on the blue half of Merseyside is the appointment of Leeds’ Chief Executive Officer Angus Kinnear, which will see director of football Kevin Thelwell depart at the end of the season.
Tim Iroegbunam took to X to thank the outgoing recruitment supremo (10 March), saying: “Done more than people will ever know – thanks for giving me the opportunity to play for this great club”
Everton head in new direction
There is an air of optimism around Goodison Park as the new era takes fruition and it is sad that Thelwell will not be a part of it.
He helped the Toffees steer their way through a grim period to retain their top-flight status under Farhad Moshiri despite points deductions and limited transfer budgets.
| Signing | Age | Fee |
| Jake O’Brien | 23 | £16.5m |
| Iliman Ndiaye | 24 | £15m |
| Tim Iroegbunam | 21 | £9m |
| Armando Broja | 22 | Loan |
| Jesper Lindstrom | 24 | Loan |
| Orel Mangala | 26 | Loan |
| Asmir Begovic | 37 | Free |
A shift in recruitment was evident in the summer with a focus on young players with massive potential, with the likes of Ireogbunam, Iliman Ndiaye, Jake O’Brien and Armando Broja brought to the club.
While Ndiaye is the only one who has made a significant impact so far this season, Iroegbunam has escaped his injury woes and could now become a key player in the engine room.
As for Broja, the option is there to bring him in on a permanent deal but after his constant injury nightmare, it remains to be seen whether it is activated.
One thing is for sure, Thelwell will be missed by the squad and he will go down in the history books as an underrated figure in the Blues’ survival against the odds.