Everton 2019-20 Season Loan Recap - Part 1: Youth Players

Everton had no shortage of players out-on-loan in 2019/20, and some of them were even considered to have a future at the club.

It was a tough season all-round and below I’ve taken a look at how Everton’s “prospects” got on while out-on-loan last season and what the future holds for them.

It doesn’t make pretty reading, but there are a couple rays of hope.

The Youngsters

Kieran Dowell – Derby County + Wigan Athletic

Endured a difficult spell on loan at Derby in the first half of the season, which seemed to terminate any ideas that he may still have a future at Everton.

His form improved dramatically surrounded by familiar faces at Wigan, who – despite being one of the most in-form Championship teams in 2020 – were relegated in the dodgiest of bureaucratic circumstances in July.

Dowell’s highlight of the season was undoubtedly bagging a hat-trick and an assist during Wigan’s 8-0 demolition of Hull – the biggest win in the club’s history.

While his form at the Latics may have been too little too late for a Goodison future, the 22-year-old attacking midfielder has now completed a permanent move to Norwich City for an undisclosed fee (most likely between £2 and £5 million). Could be a great move for him as he looks to help secure the youthful Canaries an immediate return to the Premier League.

Once considered one of the brightest young prospects in the Everton youth stable, Dowell will always be remembered for what could have been.

At Derby: Minutes: 702, Apps: 8(2), Goals: 0, Assists: 1

At Wigan: Minutes: 996, Apps: 13(0), Goals: 5, Assists: 2

Nathan Broadhead – Burton Albion

Broadhead was one of the standout performers for Everton during Marco Silva’s final pre-season and there was a good deal of hope as he joined League One Burton on loan for the season.

An outstanding debut saw the 22-year-old Welsh winger score twice on his full debut, while he also scored as Burton sent AFC Bournemouth crashing out of the League Cup in September. However, a series of niggling injuries restricted Broadhead’s minutes and effectiveness for the rest of the campaign, which ultimately ended early due to the pandemic.

Sadly, despite the promise of last summer, that looks set to be the end of Broadhead’s Everton career, with the Blues reportedly open to offers for the winger who has one year remaining on his Everton contract.

Minutes: 1299, Apps: 15(7), Goals: 3, Assists: 3

Jonjoe Kenny – Schalke 04

Undoubtedly the star out-on-loan player of the season has been Jonjoe Kenny, who was yet another English player to thrive in the Bundesliga.

The 23-year-old joined Schalke on loan for the season and made the right-back spot his own for David Wagner’s team, even bagging a couple of nice goals in the process.

It remains to be seen whether Kenny has a future at Everton. Right-back is definitely an area of the team that needs to be improved and Kenny could certainly provide ample deputy, although whether he is the level of full-back that Everton need right now is questionable.

If Everton don’t sign another right-back this summer, Kenny will likely go head-to-head with Seamus Coleman for a starting berth. However, it would be very surprising if Everton weren’t in the market for a right-back.

So, should the Blues bring in a new right back, this could be the right time for Kenny to move on. His stock is high and he won’t be short of suitors after a breakthrough season in Germany – plus his transfer value will be at an all-time high.

Very good loan.

Minutes: 2944, Apps: 34(0), Goals: 2, Assists: 3

Josh Bowler – Hull City

A mixed bag for the 21-year-old winger at Hull.

Was a bit-part player in the first few months of the season but worked his way into frequent starts during a streak of good form for Hull from November to January. Sadly, just as he was getting going, he picked up an injury that looked set to rule him out for the rest of the season.

The pandemic “break” proved useful for Bowler in this regard though, as he was back playing by the restart. However, Hull never really started playing and were ultimately relegated after a truly dreadful end to the season – losing their final six games, meaning they finished rock bottom of the Championship table.

Certainly hasn’t shown enough to put himself in first-team contention and, with one year left on his Everton contract, will likely see out his Blues’ career on loan, unless Everton can snag a fee for him this summer.

Minutes: 1251, Apps: 14(17), Goals: 1, Assists: 1

Korede Adedoyin – Hamilton Academical

Was released by Everton after failing to make a first team squad at Hamilton.

Minutes: 0, Apps: 0(0), Goals: 0, Assists: 0

Fraser Hornby – KV Kortrijk

Despite a positive start at Kortrijk, Hornby quickly fell out of favour and struggled for minutes. The big 20-year-old striker has now completed a permanent move to Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims for a fee believed to be about £1.8 million.

Best of luck to him in France!

Minutes: 871, Apps: 11(3), Goals: 4, Assists: 1

Callum Connolly – Lincoln City + Fleetwood Town

The versatile 22-year-old initially joined League One Lincoln City in the first half of the season and player regularly in holding midfield and then centre-back, but fell out of favour after a change of management at Sincil Bank.

In January, he switched over to Joey Barton’s Fleetwood Town and was a key part of a back three that fired the Cod Army into the play-offs following some fine form in the second half of the season.

Sadly, it all fell apart in the first-leg of the play-offs, with Fleetwood losing 4-1 at home to Wycombe Wanderers, who would eventually go on to be promoted to the Championship.

Another solid season on loan for Connolly, but he’s still not in with a sniff of the first team. Also has one year left on his contract, so Everton will surely try to get a fee for him this summer.

At Lincoln: Minutes: 1040, Apps: 12(3), Goals: 40, Assists: 1

At Fleetwood: Minutes: 1106, Apps: 15(0), Goals: 2, Assists: 0

Lewis Gibson – Fleetwood Town

Another player who joined Fleetwood on loan and helped catapult them up the table.

The 20-year-old centre back played mostly on the left of a back three and impressed managed Joey Barton a great deal. While at Fleetwood, Gibson played every minute and only experienced defeat once (in the play-offs against Wycombe) and was part of a defence that conceded just six goals in nine games before the pandemic.

He is one of few players on loan this season that might actually have an Everton future. But with Jarrod Branthwaite now also on the scene at Everton, though, he has his competition cut out.

Gibson has two years left on his Everton contract and is likely destined for a loan at a decent Championship club next season in order to continue his development and see if he can get up to Premier League standard.

Minutes: 990, Apps: 11(0), Goals: 0, Assists: 1

Morgan Feeney – Tranmere Rovers

Was released by the Blues this summer after a disastrous loan spell at Tranmere in which he picked up a season-ending injury following his debut.

Minutes: 90, Apps: 1(0), Goals: 0, Assists: 0