Everton is close to signing Lyon defender Jake O'Brien

Everton is in the final stages of completing the deal to acquire Lyon defender Jake O'Brien for a transfer fee of 20 million euros (£16.9 million). The 23-year-old Irishman was granted permission to travel to Merseyside on Saturday morning to finalize personal contract terms and sign a four-year contract with an option for an additional twelve months, provided he passes the medical examination. O'Brien made 27 appearances for the French club last season, scoring four goals, which significantly contributed to Lyon's sixth-place finish in Ligue 1. The Irish international previously played for Crystal Palace but left the club last summer to secure regular first-team football. The South London club agreed to a sell-on clause as part of the £1 million deal that took O'Brien to France and will receive 20 percent of the profit from his transfer to Everton—approximately £3.2 million. The center-back joined Crystal Palace from Cork City in February 2021, initially on loan, and represented the first team during pre-season tours to Australia, Singapore, and the USA, before signing a permanent contract later that summer. In the 2022/23 season, he was loaned to Belgian club RWD Molenbeek and helped them secure promotion to the Belgian Pro League. Prior to that, he spent six months on loan at Swindon Town. O'Brien has long been a target for manager Sean Dyche, who sought to strengthen his defensive options for the new season following Ben Godfrey's move to Atalanta last month.