Credit: Imago

Josh Edwards

Wed 11 March 2026 18:10, UK

Jarrad Branthwaite has been a stalwart for Everton, and his future replacement may already be in the building.

Aside from the likes of Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Branthwaite has been one of the most talked-about players at Everton, and for good reason.

His absence for the most part of the season has certainly been felt, having impressed in the previous campaign, but his recent return has come with plenty of optimism.

Branthwaite has often been linked with an exit from Everton, and while the Toffees will want to keep him, they may already have his successor in the building in the form of Aled Thomas.

Aled Thomas may have what it takes to replace Jarrad Branthwaite

When Branthwaite first emerged on the scene back in 2019, very few would have expected him to go on and hold the level of importance that he does today.

And fast forward five years from now, the same may be said about Thomas.

The 19-year-old defender possesses very similar qualities to Branthwaite, with his ability in the air by far his biggest draw.

Thomas has won a staggering 80 per cent of his aerial duels this season in the Premier League 2, while having won a total of 48 duels throughout the campaign.

In comparison, Branthwaite has won 77.4 per cent of his aerial duels this season, with a total of 24, albeit having made a limited number of appearances due to injury.

Thomas has also created four big chances this season, the majority of which have arrived from set pieces, showcasing the threat he poses in the penalty area.

The one area of his game that is quite far behind Branthwaite’s is his ability on the ball, having completed just 78.7 per cent of his attempted passes, though it’s worth noting that this is just 2.4 per cent lower than his first full season at Everton.

When does Thomas’ contract at Everton expire?

Fortunately for the Toffees, they have some security when it comes to the future of Thomas.

His contract at Merseyside is valid until the summer of 2027, meaning he will still have one year left at the end of the current campaign.

Should he be able to maintain his current level of performance, there is every chance that the deal gets extended.

With Branthwaite previously linked with Man United, David Moyes needs to be aware of his potential succession plans, and the Welshman is one of them.

Thomas will almost certainly have a part to play in pre-season, where he will be looking to make a claim for a promotion to the first team.