In the midst of all the moves being finalized yesterday, Everton made a series of choices to send a trio of players out on loan to improve their chances of seeing regular minutes this season.
The group was midfielder Harrison Armstrong, who joins Championship side Preston North End, defender Tyler Onyango, who will play for Stockport County in League One, and winger Isaac Heath, who'll be part of Accrington Stanley's League Two squad.
Of the three, the only real surprise is Armstrong, who was just on the fringes of the Everton first-team this summer. But in the long run, the move makes a ton of sense, as he can step directly into Preston's starting XI and play regular minutes for the entirety of the season.
The move was made easier once the Toffees added Merlin Rohl to the club on loan from Freiburg, as the German U21 international can provide similar things that Armstrong can, although Rohl is several years older than Armstrong, who made his debut for the England U18s in March
He'll join a Preston North End side that has amassed 7 points in four matches, and currently sits 9th in the Championship table.
Onyango joined Everton in 2019 as a 16-year-old, but has struggled to find his best position, despite having the size of a center back. He does have 4 Premier League appearances, but they were all cameos. He was previously on loan at Stockport last season, where he played 7 matches.
After a third place finish last year, they lost to Leyton Orient in the playoff semifinal. The club is looking to get back into the Championship, but sit in 8th place in League One through six matches on 11 points.
As for Heath, he showed he has plenty of skill during Everton's preseason tour to the United States, but he'll be just 21 at the end of October and doesn't have much experience, even at the PL2 level.
It'll be paramount that he plays well for Accrington Stanley, as the Reds have gotten off to a shaky start to their campaign. After five matches, they've acrued just three points, with a -3 goal differential. They're just a point out of the relegation zone, which includes just two clubs in League Two.
Ultimately, minutes are what matters for these players, especially Armstrong, who Everton likely see as a part of the near future for the Toffees, probably as early as next season.