All-action Everton midfielder goes out to Bolton on loan

With the end of the second phase of the summer transfer window approaching, Everton have swelled their ranks of players out on loan in the Championship.

The club today confirmed that Joe Williams has joined Bolton Wanderers on a season-long loan deal. Birmingham, Bristol City & Hull City were also linked with the player. The highly-rated midfielder caught Marco Silva’s eye early on in preseason, but a muscle injury put paid to any chances he had of breaking into the senior squad. On his return to action, he impressed in the Under-23s first two games of the season.

Williams was loaned out to Barnsley in the Championship last season and made an immediate impact. Though the Tykes eventually ended the season close to the bottom, the 21-year-old was instrumental in their survival.

He had made his name in the Everton Academy as a box-to-box midfielder, but appeared to find great success as a holding midfielder last season with Barnsley, causing even David Unsworth to remark in surprise that he hadn’t expected him to make that transition as smoothly as he did.

Williams is definitely one for the future at the Toffees, and another year of regular game time and seasoning in the Championship will do the player’s confidence and abilities a lot of good.

The Liverpool Echo adds that the Blues have insisted on a recall clause being put into the deal as well, which would allow for the player to return if needed.