Everton Loan Recap: January Report | Latest on Kean, Branthwaite, Simms & more

After sending out just six players on loan for the first half of the season, there was a surge of loan departures in January. Jarrad Branthwaite, Matthew Pennington and Ellis Simms were the first movers in the window, before being remotely joined by Yannick Bolasie, Beni Baningime, Cenk Tosun and the highly promising Anthony Gordon.

So, let’s take a look at how Everton’s out-on-loan contingent got on in January.

Moise Kean – PSG

Kean started the month in goal scoring fashion once more, bagging in the 1-1 draw with Saint-Etienne and then again a few days later in the 3-1 win over

However, Mauricio Pochettino (appointed PSG boss at the start of January) dropped Kean to the bench for their 2-1 Trophee Des Champions final victory over Marseille, with Moise only coming on for the final two minutes.

He returned to the starting line-up for a 1-0 league win a few days later, but was then left on the bench for PSG’s next two games – the first league games he’s missed this season.

Kean’s stock remains relatively high, but it seems if Pochettino remains unsure of the Italian youngster – which may not be for Everton’s hopes of landing a hefty fee for him in the summer.

Appearances: 17(4)

Goals: 11

Assists: 1

Nathan Markelo – Twente

Has featured in just 80 minutes of action for Twente this season, spread across five substitute appearances.

Still has over a year left on his Everton contract but hard to see a first-team future at Goodison for the 22-year-old.

Appearances: 0(5)

Goals: 0

Assists: 0

Dennis Adeniran – Wycombe Wanderers

With FA Cup action and COVID complexities, Wycombe played just two league games in January: a 3-1 loss to Boro and a 7-2 defeat to Brentford. He came off the bench in the former, but played the full 90 minutes (picking up an assist in the process) of the latter crushing defeat.

He also played 66 minutes in the club’s 4-1 win over Preston North End in the FA Cup, but was left on the bench in their eventual 4-1 defeat to Spurs in the fourth round.

Appearances: 12(2)

Goals: 0

Assists: 1

Lewis Gibson – Reading

It’s not gone to plan for Gibson at Reading. He’s barely featured and made the bench just twice in January, not getting on the pitch for any action.

Appearances: 3(1)

Goals: 0

Assists: 0

Callum Connolly – Fleetwood Town

The 23-year-old hasn’t missed a minute for Fleetwood since re-joining the club in October.

Tough month for the Cod Army though, who recently saw Joey Barton leave the club, picking up just two points from five league games in January, scoring just once.

Appearances: 21(0)

Goals: 1

Assists: 1

Theo Walcott – Southampton

Form’s been fading for Walcott at Saints, but he remains a starting player.

No goals or assists in his last eight games, though.

Appearances: 16(0)

Goals: 2

Assists: 2

Jarrad Branthwaite – Blackburn Rovers

It’s been a headline grabbing month for the 18-year-old centre-back after moving on loan to Championship, Blackburn.

He put in a strong and composed performance on his debut in a 1-1 draw with Stoke at Ewood Park, but on his second game he felt the wrath on Middlesbrough manager, Neil Warnock, after Branthwaite inadvertently caught Dael Fry in the face with his studs. It must be said he was lucky to escape any punishment, but Blackburn went on to win the game 1-0.

He picked up the man of the match award in his most recent appearance: a 1-0 win at home over Luton Town.

Great start.

Appearances: 3(0)

Goals: 0

Assists: 0

Matthew Pennington – Shrewsbury Town

The Everton under-23s veteran (now 26!) moved to League One’s Shrewsbury in January. He made his debut in a 2-0 defeat to Southampton in the FA Cup, and kept his place for a 1-0 loss to Shrewsbury a few days later, but has missed the last two games for an unknown reason (assumedly injury).

Appearances: 2(0)

Goals: 0

Assists: 0

Ellis Simms - Blackpool

Simms has wasted no time to make an impression at Blackpool.

The big 19-year-old striker made his debut in the FA Cup, coming on for the final 24 minutes of a 2-1 defeat to Brighton. He then came off the bench for 20 minutes against Wigan and scored the final two goals of a 5-0 romp. He then made his first started for the Tangerines, playing 80 minutes of a 2-0 win over Northampton.

Appearances: 1(2)

Goals: 2

Assists: 0

Yannick Bolasie – Middlesbrough

The Everton outcast made a late January move to Middlesbrough and was thrust straight into the action, playing 56 minutes at centre-forward as Boro held league leaders Norwich to a 0-0 draw.

Appearances: 1(0)

Goals: 0

Assists: 0

Latest Loan Moves

Beni Baningime – Derby County

A once promising player that has been stuck playing under-23s football for far too long, Baningime finally secured another loan move as his former teammate, Wayne Rooney, brought him to Derby.

Cenk Tosun – Besiktas

Cenk’s gone back to Besiktas, where he can hopefully make enough of an impression for them to buy the Turkish striker permanently in the summer.

Anthony Gordon – Preston North End

Has been on the fringes of Everton’s first team for the past year and now the exciting 19-year-old winger will hopefully get some regular game time at Preston in the Championship. Definitely one to keep an eye on.