Everton Announces First Summer Signing as Teammates React to Emotional Departure
Everton Secures Aston Villa Midfielder Tim Iroegbunam for Undisclosed Fee
Tim Iroegbunam has joined Everton from Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee.
The 20-year-old central midfielder has agreed to a three-year deal, keeping him at the club until the end of June 2027.
Iroegbunam, an England youth international, is Everton’s first signing of the summer. He will join his new teammates when Sean Dyche’s squad returns to Finch Farm for pre-season training next month.
Everton has described Iroegbunam as an athletic and combative player. He has represented England at the Under-20 level and was part of the team that won the UEFA Under-19 European Championships in 2022.
Iroegbunam had a standout season on loan with Championship side QPR in 2022/23, where he made 32 league appearances and scored two goals. Returning to Aston Villa last season, he contributed to Unai Emery’s side’s fourth-place finish in the Premier League.
He also gained experience in European competitions during the 2023/24 season. Iroegbunam played in both legs of Villa’s Europa Conference League last-16 victory over Ajax and featured in matches against Lille and Olympiacos as Villa reached the semi-finals.
Iroegbunam started his career at West Bromwich Albion, making his senior debut for the club in a Premier League game in May 2021. He had been with West Brom’s academy since the age of eight. In July 2021, he moved to Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee, making his senior debut in February 2022 and signing a new long-term contract a month later.
Iroegbunam expressed his gratitude to Aston Villa as he announced his departure on social media. On Instagram, he wrote: “After an amazing three years at Aston Villa, it is time to say goodbye. I have so much to thank everyone at this club for, from making my Premier League debut to playing in Europe.
“It has truly been amazing. Everyone involved in this journey has been so good to me, and I won’t forget it. It was an honor to call myself a Villan. To my teammates, coaches, and you fans, you will all be missed! Lots of love, Tim Iroegbunam.”
Matty Cash, one of Iroegbunam’s Aston Villa teammates, responded to the post with the comment “What a player” and a crying emoji.
