Jarrad Branthwaite Bolsters Everton Defense And Could Emulate John Stones

Jarrad Branthwaite was a standout player in Everton’s recent victory in London at West Ham United, and the game was the next step in the development of a promising young English center-back.

The 21-year-old, 6-foot-5 defender, was named Man of the Match, contributing greatly to his side’s clean sheet in a 1-0 win.

Having sat on the bench for the first two Premier PINC League games, this was his eighth consecutive start, playing the full 90 minutes in each.

The Cumbrian now looks like a nailed-on starter for Sean Dyche’s side.

"He was very unfortunate in pre-season," Dyche told Sky Sports this week.

"He missed two-and-a-half weeks of pre-season. That would have maybe given him the opportunity to push on and start the season.

"Once he got fit, he has taken the chance."

Branthwaite’s first Everton appearances came back in July 2020 in games played behind closed doors during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He had joined Everton in January of that year from League Two side Carlisle United for a fee of around $1 million, signed by the club’s then sporting director, Marcel Brands.

“As a player, I like to get the ball off the keeper and play out from the back, Branthwaite said on his arrival.

“I’m good with both feet, but the main thing is I like to defend and stop the ball going into the back of the net. I love a clean sheet.”

All of these strengths were on show against West Ham on Sunday.

Making the step up from his hometown club in the fourth tier of English football to becoming a regular Premier League-level player was not a quick process.

In the ensuing seasons following his arrival, he spent time on loan with Blackburn Rovers in the English Championship and the Eindhoven-based Dutch Eredivisie club, PSV.

These varied experiences, along with his time as a youth player in League Two with Carlisle and appearances here and there for Everton, helped produce the player seen in recent impressive performances.

The Championship is a place to adapt to various opposition tactical approaches while also continuing to experience the physical side of senior men’s football in England.

The Eredivisie is a league known for its tactical discipline, and Branthwaite was so impressive in the Dutch top flight that PSV had hoped to sign him on a permanent deal ahead of the 2023/24 season.

But Everton, struggling financially and having to make the most of the players already at its disposal, did well to keep hold of Branthwaite and eventually add him to the starting XI under Dyche.

He is now a valuable member of the squad, and in terms of a fee from any potential sale, one of the most valuable in the team.

Given Everton’s defensive struggles in recent seasons, it would have been tempting to introduce a player with Branthwaite’s attributes earlier. In hindsight, and whether deliberately or not, the club has done well to wait until this moment when the player has the experience required and is ready to regularly contribute.

At the start of the 2023/24 season, Branthwaite appears stronger and more athletic. He now has strength to go with his height, as shown in his battles with West Ham striker Michael Antonio.

He has always boasted good passing ability with both feet and is predominantly left-footed, allowing him to play on the left side of the defence, but the defensive side of his game now seems to be coming together, too, and should lead to fewer mistakes.

Twenty-one is still young for a defender, and there will still be the odd bump in the road, especially while playing for a club like Everton that is not the most consistent of Premier League sides, but there is at least some stability and continuation under Dyche who is now in his second season at the club.

It is a testament to Branthwaite that he has still looked good when Everton has been poor.

It is difficult for any player to perform well in a struggling side, but it is even more difficult as a defender whose position is generally at the coal face of opposition pressure. Just ask any of Manchester United’s defenders.

"You have got Jordan [Pickford] behind him and Tarky [James Tarkowski] next to him," added Dyche in his interview with Sky Sports.

“They are good players to have around you and experienced players.”

Dyche himself was a central defender, and the instruction and pointers will continue to come after each game, but Branthwaite is arguably already Everton’s best defender in terms of talent.

Once it is joined by more experience, the team that sold John Stones to Manchester City for around $60 million could place a similar price tag on the head of its latest young defensive star who could also push his way into the England national team consideration.

Such a price tag will partly be in the hope of keeping hold of him for several seasons more, and earlier this month Branthwaite signed a contract until June 2027.

But as Dyche would concur, there is plenty of work to be put in before any of that happens, as Everton looks to avoid the relegation battles of recent seasons.

Branthwaite, who has been almost like a new signing this season such is his progress, could contribute greatly to easing pressure on the club and see it finish more comfortably in the Premier League table.