Everton signed Jean-Philippe Gbamin as a replacement to Idrissa Gueye in 2019 as the Senegalese had left for PSG a season ago. Gbamin was seen as this athletic, robust and hardworking midfielder who could solve Everton’s problems at the base of the midfield. Sadly, it has gone all downhill for Gbamin and Everton and even the last ray of hope of resurrecting his Everton career has died.
Following his £25 million move to Everton, Gbamin made some impression in the opening two games of the 2019-20 Premier League season. A horrific hamstring injury then saw him miss 32 games for the Toffees. When the world was in lockdown mode, Gbamin was working hard on his recovery, only to suffer another major setback in the form of an Achilles tendon injury.
The Ivorian missed another 45 games as the picture of him in an Everton shirt became a blur in the fans’ memories with each passing day. He had already been adjudged as a failed transfer as no football for nearly two years had maxed out the supporters’ patience. He finally made his return against Crystal Palace in April 2021, only to pick up another long term medial collateral ligament injury.
Everton midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin wants to return to Germany
In the first half of 2021-22 season, the Ivorian played just 65 minutes of Premier League football for Everton before being sent out on loan at CSKA Moscow. His fortune changed with his arrival in Russia as he started 11 games and clocked 90 minutes for nine times in 11 Russian league appearances.
Not in Frank Lampard’s plans, Gbamin was loaned out to Trabzonspor for the 2022-23 season. The 27 year old ended up making 24 appearances but starting just 11 of them. With his loan deal expiring at the end of the month and a return on the cards, what can Everton do about Gbamin?
The player will enter the final 12 months of his deal this summer and given Sean Dyche’s midfield pecking order, there is little room for Gbamin. Perhaps an injury free Gbamin could’ve been forged into a midfield machine and fit into Dyche’s well oiled midfield but the risk is too high and EFC have no room for mistakes.
Dyche is unlikely to change is midfield of Idrissa Gueye, Amadou Onana and Abdoulaye Doucoure. James Garner is waiting in the wings for his turn and Tom Davies has been offered a new deal. Even if Davies departs and Onana is sold, Gbamin’s place in the team is not guaranteed.
According to German BILD, Gbamin has made a decision over his Everton future. The 75k per week earner has decided that he wants to leave England and is eyeing a return to Germany. His successful spell at Mainz, gives him hope that he can revive his career in Bundesliga.
The ship for succeeding at Everton has sailed. It is best for all parties to turn the page over and let Gbamin leave this summer. EFC could save a good amount of money that would have otherwise gone in paying Gbamin’s wages and the 27 year old can start afresh elsewhere.
Will Jean-Philippe Gbamin return to Germany?