Reece Welch set to join new club after Everton green light – sources

Reece Welch, a defender, is being chased by Championship and Dutch Eredivisie teams, and Everton intends to loan him out for the upcoming season, sources have told Football Insider.

Welch was loaned to Forest Green in League Two for the first part of the previous season, and the Toffees believe he would benefit from another brief stint away from Goodison Park the following year. The 20-year-old has drawn interest from Dutch teams SC Heerenveen and NEC Nijmegen as well as English second-tier teams hoping to give him more first-team playing time.

The center-back is particularly interested in joining Everton in the footsteps of Jarrad Branthwaite, who had an incredible loan stint with PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie in 2022–2023 and went on to become an important member of Sean Dyche’s squad upon his return. Chiefs at Goodison have great expectations for Welch and think a summer loan will be the best way to help him advance.

Everton want Reece Welch to follow in Jarrod Branthwaite footsteps

Welch made his FA Cup debut for Everton against Boreham Wood in February 2022, although he has only played in one more senior game since then. Before being called up by the Toffees in January of the season, the defender started 17 of his 23 outings for Forest Green.

The club hopes that Welch will follow in Branthwaite’s footsteps, as both SC Heerenveen and NEC Nijmegen have expressed interest in signing a loan agreement for the player this summer. After securing a starting position in the PSV squad, Branthwaite made 36 games while he was in the Netherlands.

The center back’s confidence was bolstered by that experience, and over the next nine months, he earned a spot in Dyche’s squad by making 41 starts and helping the Toffees maintain their Premier League status for another season.

Additionally, Branthwaite was called up for the first time by England in March, and he has been added to Gareth Southgate’s training group in anticipation of the forthcoming European Championships.

In an effort to assist Welch realize his full potential on Merseyside, Everton is hopeful that his career will take a similar course to that of his Blues comrade.