Done deal: Everton midfielder signs for English club
By Harvey Byrne
Everton midfielder Joe Williams has signed for English Championship club Barnsley on a season-long loan deal, it was confirmed on Thursday.
The Tykes announced the 20-year-old had completed a temporary move from Goodison Park to Oakwell on Thursday afternoon via their official Twitter account and website.
Williams is considered a bright prospect in the Everton youth ranks, but last season he played just seven matches for the Under-23s in an injury hit campaign for the youth team which saw them lift the Premier League 2.
He did however also make five appearances on Ronald Koeman’s bench in the last campaign and only in February did he agree a contract extention at Goodison Park taking him up to 2020 after being named the 2015-16 Under-21s Player of the Season.
The youngster will now be looking to break into the Barnsley midfield, who finished in 14th place last season and are looking to move up the Championship table.
Football Insider verdict:
A loan move for Williams makes the most sense in terms of the next step of his development. Given that Everton have added a number of players to their squad this summer, including midfielder Davy Klaassen alongside already having Morgan Schneiderlin, Irdissa Gueye and Tom Davies in their midfield ranks a taste of regular first team football will help Williams progress and fulfil his early potential. Williams has already proven he has what it takes to star at Under-23s football and his next challenge will be to show that he can do it with the seniors without the demands of the Premier League.
In other Everton transfer news, the Toffees have been handed a boost in their pursuit of this 16-goal striker.
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