Everton have made England Under-20 international Tim Iroegbunam their first summer signing for a reported £9m.

He has signed a three year deal with a contract running until June 2027, with Everton’s Lewis Dobbin joining Aston Villa as part of the deal.

🔵🔐 Official, confirmed. Tim Iroegbunam signs for Everton from Aston Villa for £9m fee.

Contract until June 2027.

↪️ Lewis Dobbin will join Aston Villa from Everton as part of the deal, confirmed. pic.twitter.com/S4kl79k3sj

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 22, 2024

Iroegbunam joins the blue side of Merseyside from Aston Villa, who are eager to raise funds this summer to avoid breaking the Premier Leagues Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

After completing his move to Everton, Iroegbuman expressed his desire to get started at his new club:

“I’m very pleased. Everton is an amazing club, a big club and I’m just really happy to join and I can’t wait to get started.”

“It was a move that I didn’t want to pass by. I wanted to take the opportunity.”

Learning about our history, excited for our future. 🤩

Our first interview with Tim Iroegbunam is out now! ⤵️

— Everton (@Everton) June 22, 2024

Everton manager Sean Dyche said

“We’re pleased to add Tim to our midfield options. He is a young player who is still learning and developing but clearly has a lot of the qualities we want in that area of the pitch.”

“My coaching staff and I are looking forward to starting to work with him in pre-season.”

But who is Tim Iroegbunam?

Tim Iroegbunam, 20, was born in Birmingham and began playing youth football for Sutton United before joining West Bromwich Albion’s academy.

He made his senior debut for the Baggies in a Premier League match when he came off the bench against Leeds United on 23rd May 2021.

The young midfielder moved to Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee in July 2021, making his first senior appearance in February 2022. Iroegbunam signed a long-term contract for the club in March 2023.

Described as an exciting prospect, Everton’s new signing is an athletic and combative player who likes to get stuck in and work hard for his teammates.

Tim Iroegbunam has signed for Everton from Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee, the 20-year-old central midfielder agreeing a three-year deal until the end of June 2027. ✍️

Welcome to the Toffees, Tim! 🔵

— Everton (@Everton) June 22, 2024

Iroegbunam enjoyed an impressive loan spell at championship side Queens Park Rangers in the 2022/23 campaign, during which he made 32 league appearances and scored two goals.

He returned to Aston Villa last season following his successful loan spell but has struggled for regular playing time under manager Unai Emery.

Everton will be hoping they can nurture his potential with Iroegbunam having represented England at Under-20 level. He was part of the squad who won the UEFA Under-19s European Championships in 2022.

He has also experienced European football having been part of Villa’s 2023/24 Europa Conference League campaign. Iroegbunam featured in both legs of Villa’s last 16 tie with Ajax, whilst also being involved in games against Lille and Olympiacos.

This signing is a risk for the Toffees as Iroegbunam has little experience in the topflight of English football with only 12 appearances in the Premier League.

However, he is in good hands with Sean Dyche and his qualities as a player lend well to the way the Everton manager likes his teams to play. Dyche will be keen for Iroegbunam to bring a tenacious and youthful edge to his midfield.

Time will tell if this is a smart piece of business from Everton, Iroegbunam is one to watch going into the 2024/25 Premier League season. Toffees fans will get behind the youngster and he will have the full support of Goodison Park behind him.