Jarrad Branthwaite has seen quite a meteoric rise to the upper echelon of central defenders in England, if not in the whole of world football.
Since joining Carlisle United at just 16 and then signing for Everton just a year later, his career has also included loan spells at Blackburn in the Championship and PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie, and since he's returned from the latter, he has been a nailed on starter for the Toffees when he's been healthy.
And now the England international is going to be holding down the spine of Everton's defense for the next five years, as the club confirmed today that he signed an extended contract with the Blues.
There has been speculation about the deal for the last couple of weeks, especially after clubs like Manchester United and Tottenham have come sniffing around to see about Branthwaite joining their sides.
But in the end, the defender chose to stay on Merseyside, where he's spent most of his career, and help carry the team into the new era at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Speaking with EvertonTV, the 23-year-old confirmed his ambitions and why he opted to add to his Everton tenure rather than seeking out other options:
""I know the Club. I feel loved by the players – we’ve got a good group here – and the fans. Over the past few years, I’ve seen the impact the fans have on us as a team and how much it means to them. And, obviously, with the new stadium we’ve got here, the new ownership and the new manager, it's an exciting project and it's something I want to be part of.""Jarrad Branthwaite
This is what supporters of the Blues have longed to see in recent years, but financial struggles and difficulty on the pitch have made the club less attractive to both top-quality transfer targets and young talent to stick around.
And yet, with the permanent transfer of Charly Alcaraz combined with Branthwaite's long-term commitment, not to mention the potential signing of Thierno Barry on the horizon, maybe that is all changing for the better.