Jarrad Branthwaite's Transformative PSV Loan: How It Unleashed His Potential at Everton

"Top international teams rely on their best players to gain valuable experience abroad. Take France as an example, where a significant number of their players showcase their talent in Italy, Spain, or England. Despite this, they managed to achieve victory in both the World Cup and the European Championships."

This statement, made by former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann, is over twenty years old but remains relevant even today. While he specifically addressed his teammate Michael Owen and England captain David Beckham, his words could easily apply to the majority of notable British players.

Both of Hamann's intended targets ultimately heeded his advice, albeit not necessarily due to his inspiration, and achieved prosperous stints in Europe with Real Madrid - albeit one longer than the other.

Despite the impact of Jadon Sancho, Jude Bellingham, and more recently Harry Kane as British exports, the situation remains unchanged. In Gareth Southgate's most recent England squad, only four players ply their trade abroad.

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, at the age of just 20, faced a daunting opportunity last summer when he was offered a loan move to PSV. With limited sources of advice on the advantages and disadvantages of the offer, he had to make a decision on his own. However, after a successful season in Eindhoven, Branthwaite has now secured a regular starting position back at Goodison Park. If any of the club's other young talents are contemplating a similar move, he would strongly advise them to follow his path.

According to him, his decision was the optimal choice. It proved to be the most advantageous move he ever made. When you are young, it is crucial to actively participate in games, regardless of the level. Venturing overseas provided him with a significant platform and a grand stage to perform on in Europe. The continuous opportunity to play extensively greatly contributed to his development.

"I immediately agreed to the opportunity after discussing it with my family and agent. The chance for personal growth, the potential accomplishments, and the opportunity to play in games convinced me. This experience has increased my confidence both on and off the field.

Relocating to a foreign country and living independently forced me to acquire new skills and adapt to unfamiliar customs, culture, and language. Although it was challenging when I initially moved, it ultimately helped me return as a more improved individual and player compared to when I first departed."

Branthwaite won't miss the bicycles or his Dutch lessons - "I only lasted a few classes" - but despite a challenging beginning, he developed an affection for a city whose warm and inviting ambiance evoked memories of home in Liverpool.

Brentford

Everton

Saturday 23rd September 5:00pm

Kick off 5:30pm

With less than 400 Premier League minutes under his belt at Everton throughout the entirety of the previous season, the feeling of being once again benched at the Philips Stadion early on brought about an uncomfortable sense of déjà vu.

He shares, "The first half of the season was challenging. When I was in the midst of playing games, I didn't dwell on being alone. However, during the times when I wasn't playing, it felt like endless weeks of training, pondering why I wasn't on the field and questioning the purpose of my journey."

Branthwaite's resilience had already been evident for quite some time. As a teenager, he was just six weeks away from being released by his beloved childhood team Carlisle. However, he gave his all and pushed himself to secure a scholarship, thanks to the unwavering support of his father Paul, a retired rugby player. It was his father's backing throughout his academy years that kept his dream of becoming a professional alive.

He maintained a low profile in Holland and was handsomely rewarded for his efforts. Stepping in for Andre Ramalho in PSV's inaugural match following the mid-season hiatus, he seized the opportunity and never relinquished it, making just two absences in their last 20 games.

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Branthwaite caught the eye as PSV beat Arsenal in the Europa League group stages last season

Manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy expressed his admiration, stating in February, "He possesses exceptional talent. He is skilled with the ball, versatile enough to play on either side of the center due to his ambidexterity, and he possesses an impressive combination of height and speed. In summary, he is an immensely talented defender." It was widely known that PSV desired to retain him in the Eredivisie, however, Everton was well-informed of the glowing feedback their young star received abroad. Sean Dyche, upon returning to Finch Farm for pre-season, clearly demonstrated his awareness of the player's impressive performances.

"When I entered the pre-season, he urged me to train diligently, assuring me that an opportunity would come my way. He emphasized that it was solely up to me to seize it," he recounts.

"During the initial few games when I wasn't given a chance to play, those words kept resonating in my mind. Now that I have secured a place in the team, my focus lies in maintaining consistently exceptional performance and retaining my position."

Having been a centre-back in his playing days, Dyche's expertise in organizing the defense is complemented by his experiences gained in the Netherlands. During training sessions, the manager consistently emphasizes the fundamentals, which is evident in the team's performance on the field.

If Branthwaite retains his position at Brentford on Saturday, which will be broadcasted live on We, he will equalize the number of starts he had in his previous full season at Goodison Park after just six matches. It would be unexpected if he didn't achieve this feat, considering his strong performance against Arsenal last Sunday.

Although Everton has had one of their worst starts to a Premier League season with that defeat, Branthwaite has been excelling both defensively and offensively. He has retrieved the ball in his own defensive third more times than any other Everton player and has also completed the second-highest number of forward passes among all Toffees players.

Is he currently playing the best football of his blossoming career?

"Yeah, I suppose so," he replies. "Considering the competitiveness of this league, it's been a solid beginning for me to perform at the level I am."

I am actively working on improving to reach the next level, and achieving that will require consistent game time while maintaining my current approach.

Having a coach who understands my position and can provide valuable advice is beneficial not only for me but for the entire team. During our training sessions, we have been focusing on defensive work to enhance the cohesion among the entire backline, ultimately resulting in improved performance.

Improving our defensive strength will also positively impact our attackers, relieving them of the sole responsibility to score.

Both the attackers and defenders contribute to our team's attacking play.

By uniting these elements, we aim for this synergy to occur during the upcoming weekend, leading to a series of successful outcomes.

Dyche has taken over from his father Paul as the chief advisor for an upcoming match day with valid reasons. As a child, Dyche used to accompany his father to away games, but now he watches from the stands. However, he continues to be brutally honest about his son's performances. "Regardless of whether I've played well or not, he will inform me," Branthwaite says with a smile. Given this, it seems unlikely that he will receive a negative assessment anytime soon.

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