Jake O’Brien has credited his international captain Séamus Coleman and Sean Dyche’s development of young defenders as key reasons for rejecting several Premier League clubs in favour of a move to Everton. The 23-year-old completed his transfer from Lyon to Goodison Park on Tuesday for an initial £17m.
O’Brien has signed a four-year contract after attracting widespread interest from the Premier League on the back of one season in France. The former Crystal Palace centre-half is Everton’s fifth signing of the summer after the midfielder Tim Iroegbunam, the forwards Iliman Ndiaye and Jesper Lindstrøm and the return on loan of Jack Harrison.