Former Queens Park Rangers loanee Tim Iroegbunam is set to move to Everton after the Toffees agreed a £10 million deal to sign the midfielder from Aston Villa, reports Football Insider.
Iroegbunam has spent most of his career to date in the midlands.
Having came through the academy at West Bromwich Albion and made the bench for their Premier League fixture against Leeds in 2021, but the central midfielder did not make a first-team appearance for the Baggies.
This was because he was signed by Aston Villa after a number of impressive performances in youth football the previous season, particularly in the FA Youth Cup where he scored twice in five appearances.
Iroegbunam made his Villa first-team debut in the 2020/21 season after coming off the bench against Brighton and Hove Albion. The youngster went on to make two more appearances off the bench for the Villains that season.
Queens Park Rangers then secured the services of Iroegbunam ahead of the 2022/23 Championship season after signing the teenager on a season-long loan.
This spell in West London marked the most fruitful period of the Englishman’s career to date. He made 32 appearances in the Championship for the Hoops, 28 of which were starts, scoring two goals in the process.
Iroegbunam’s form whilst out on loan was arguably too impressive as Unai Emery decided to keep the Birmingham-born man at Villa Park last season, but give him less than 300 minutes of senior football across 15 substitute appearances in all competitions.
With Amadou Onana being subject to interest from other bigger clubs and Andre Gomes set to be released at the end of the season, Sean Dyche’s men are looking to reinforce the midfield area in advance of the departures. Everton’s well-documented financial problems may not allow them to go for a more experienced option yet are rumoured to be paying around the £10 million mark according to the Football Insider for the midfielder.
Writer’s View
Whilst signing Iroegbunam may be a risk for Everton, it is certainly one worth taking. The Toffees already have experience in the centre of the pitch in the form of Idrissa Gueye and Abdoulaye Doucouré who will be able to aid the newcomer’s adaptation to the Premier League.
Additionally, Villa have proven that they are not afraid to sell homegrown players if it helps them meet financial requirements, as shown with Jaden Philogene last season. It will be interesting to see if there is any sort of buy-back or sell-on clause inserted into the deal which could benefit Emery’s men in the long run.