How Tom King played surprise role in Jack Grealish's Everton return
The 31-year-old goalkeeper hasn't played a minute of competitive football since he signed for Everton in last year's summer window.
A one-cap Welsh international, he's only made nine competitive appearances in his career since the 2022-23 season.
Indeed, King appears to have accepted his role as a backup goalkeeper at this stage of his career, especially at the top-end of English football.
As a result, he's become somewhat of a forgotten man with the Toffees.
But without him, the Hill Dickinson Stadium may not have been welcoming Jack Grealish back to Merseyside this summer.
What has been said about Tom King and Jack Grealish's relationship?
Just because certain players aren't visible on the pitch doesn't mean they aren't extremely important members of the dressing room.
King is currently behind Mark Travers as Everton's third-choice goalkeeper, and thus many may question his relevance with the Toffees.
But as revealed in a report from The Athletic on Wednesday, he's been a huge asset to Everton this summer.
It's claimed that a return to Everton was indeed always Grealish's transfer preference following the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign.
Not only would that mean he didn't have to up sticks and relocate, but it meant he could continue enjoying some close relationships he'd forged.
Alongside Jordan Pickford and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, King's name is also explicitly mentioned as being a particularly close friend of Grealish's.
So, what are King's chances of sharing the pitch with Grealish this season?
Why King could soon move closer to Everton chances
As mentioned, King currently sits behind Travers and Pickford in the goalkeeping hierarchy at Everton.
But that might not be the case for long, as Travers could hold the key to a larger Toffees role for the Welshman.
Now 27 and entering the prime of his goalkeeping career, the Ireland international will surely want to play regular football soon.
Travers has proven himself to be a quality keeper at Championship level during loan stints with Middlesbrough and Stoke City.
Since signing for Everton last year, he's only made two competitive appearances, and Pickford doesn't look for budging any time soon.
So, with Travers potentially coming to the end of the rope regarding his Everton role, January may see him seek pastures new.
If Everton are still in the Carabao Cup at that stage, and with the FA Cup starting up for them in the new year too, King could yet see action this term.