By allowing Jonjoe Kenny to go out on loan to Schalke 04 without an option to buy, Everton decided it was time for the young defender to get some minutes under his belt.
Despite making 40 appearances for the Premier League club, the 22-year-old needed more regular game time in order to develop, and David Wagner, newly appointed at the Bundesliga club, felt the former England U21 international was the right man for his team.
So far, the defender has played every minute of every game, meaning he’s getting the time on the pitch everyone wanted him to have.
For the player, this is also a chance to showcase his ability, knowing full well he will return to Goodison Park at the end of the season, where he might have to fight for a spot with Djibril Sidibé if Marco Silva decides to trigger the option to buy in the Frenchman’s loan.
Speaking to WAZ in Germany, Kenny laid out his plans and defended his decision to leave England for the current campaign.
He said: “I’m an aggressive player, I like going forward, hating the flanks but I also love defending and tackling. David Wagner can really make me better, as a player and a person. The experience of living far away from home will also strengthen me. I just want to become the best Jonjoe Kenny I can be.
“I wanted to prove myself somewhere else and push my career. Schalke, this terrific club with these great fans, was ideal. I also knew Wagner from the Premier League. The style he plays fit my aggressive style”.
He added: “I might like to joke and am looking forward to having a lot of fun with my new teammates, but don’t worry, when things get serious on the field, I’m in the thick of it.”
