United suffered a setback after their long-time defensive target Jarrad Branthwaite signed a fresh five-year deal with Everton, committing his future to the club until 2030.
The 23-year-old centre-back, who had been on United’s radar since last summer and again during this window, has chosen to stay with the Toffees.
United previously submitted multiple offers for the England international, including an initial £35 million plus add-ons and a second bid worth £45 million with an additional £5 million in bonuses—both of which were turned down.
Everton’s firm £70 million valuation ultimately deterred United, who instead opted to sign Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich for £42.9 million.
Although there were whispers of another potential approach this summer, the speculation never gained momentum and a deal never materialized.
The defender’s decision to remain at Goodison Park is a major win for Everton, especially after he was named their Young Player of the Year for the 2024–25 season, having previously claimed both the Player and Young Player of the Year awards in 2023–24.
Upon signing his new deal, Branthwaite expressed his delight: “I’m over the moon. It’s been something we’ve been talking about since the end of the season and to get it signed now is something I’m really excited about.”
Branthwaite attributed his decision to the trust the club has shown in him, as well as the amount of games he’s played over the past two years, making it an easy choice to stay and continue his development as a player.
He added: “I know the Club. I feel loved by the players – we’ve got a good group here – and the fans. Over the past few years, I’ve seen the impact the fans have on us as a team and how much it means to them.
“And, obviously, with the new stadium we’ve got here, the new ownership and the new manager, it’s an exciting project and it’s something I want to be part of.
“Moving to the new stadium together and having that first game at home is something we’re all looking forward to. We want to go again and push for a good season.”
Everton manager David Moyes expressed his delight at the deal, saying: “We’re delighted Jarrad has committed his future to us. He is still only 23 and his best years are hopefully still ahead of him.
“We believe he can have a huge role to play in an exciting new era at the Football Club.”
