Everton Sets £80m Price as Manchester United Revives Branthwaite Pursuit

Everton has placed an £80 million ($108 million) valuation on Jarrad Branthwaite, setting the benchmark for a transfer battle involving Manchester United, Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Atlético Madrid. The 22-year-old central defender remains under contract at Goodison Park through June 2030.


Manchester United has renewed contact with Branthwaite’s representatives after pursuing him during the summer 2024 transfer window. Old Trafford officials submitted two formal offers at that time: an initial bid of £35 million plus add-ons and a second proposal worth up to £50 million. Everton rejected both.

Everton’s leadership maintains that Branthwaite will not be sold unless an incoming offer meets its evaluation. The club’s hierarchy has cited Manchester United’s £80 million signing of Harry Maguire from Leicester City in 2019 and Manchester City’s £77 million acquisition of Joško Gvardiol from RB Leipzig in 2023 as market benchmarks for left-footed central defenders with long-term contract control.

United shifted its immediate transfer focus after those rejections, signing 18-year-old French defender Leny Yoro from Lille for £52 million (€62 million). The club also brought in Dutch international Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich in a deal worth up to €50 million.

Operating under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group, Manchester United’s sporting leadership continues to assess long-term depth at central defense. The 31-year-old Maguire is approaching the final stages of his contract, while Argentina international Lisandro Martínez has managed recurring injury layoffs in recent seasons. Executives are preparing for potential defensive roster turnover projected between 2025 and 2027.

Branthwaite remains a core target in those multi-year squad plans because of his profile as a physically dominant, left-footed defender proven in the Premier League. He established a starting partnership alongside James Tarkowski under manager Sean Dyche after returning to Everton for the 2023–24 season.

That campaign brought Branthwaite 35 Premier League appearances, 12 Everton clean sheets, and three goals. The club avoided relegation despite facing two separate points deductions for financial regulations breaches.

Branthwaite began his professional career in EFL League Two with Carlisle United, making his senior debut in 2019 at age 17. Everton signed him from Carlisle in January 2020 for an initial fee of approximately £1 million. His development continued through loan spells at Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Championship during the 2020–21 season and PSV Eindhoven during the 2022–23 campaign.

At PSV, Branthwaite worked under manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, made 36 appearances in all competitions, and won the KNVB Cup. Carlo Ancelotti, now Real Madrid manager, was in charge at Everton when the Merseyside club initially signed the defender.

Real Madrid has conducted regular scouting assessments of Branthwaite during the current campaign. Atlético Madrid has also monitored him as part of an ongoing squad overhaul under Diego Simeone, while Manchester City continues to track his availability.

After overcoming minor physical setbacks that disrupted the early stages of the current season, Branthwaite re-established his place in Everton’s starting lineup. His performances have kept him on the radar of England national team selectors operating under incoming manager Thomas Tuchel.

Branthwaite made his senior international debut for England on June 3, 2024, coming on as a substitute during a 3–0 friendly victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James’ Park. He was ultimately left off Gareth Southgate’s final 26-man roster for UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany, but remains under consideration for upcoming international fixtures.