Jean-Philippe Gbamin moved from Mainz 05 to Everton for around €28m in the summer 2019 transfer window. He was given a five year contract by the Toffees, which means he should still be at Goodison Park until the end of this season.
Instead, the 28-year-old defensive midfielder is playing for Dunkerque in France’s Ligue 2. He’s trying to build his career again after a disappointing time at Everton, and has been prepared to drop down the levels to do it.
FootMercato have an article on the player and call him a ‘phoenix’, to share the impression that things are going well as he plans a return to a higher level.
Regarding Gbamin being a relatively big money Everton flop, FootMercato insist at least some of the blame for the transfer failing should go to the Toffees, saying: ‘The fault also lies with the English club which decided to make him play without physical preparation upon his arrival, causing a fragility which he dragged on for many months, someone who had not experienced any serious injury during the three years spent with Mainz.’
About tearing his contract up last summer and giving up the final year of the deal, Gbamin is quoted as saying: “Frankly, it did me good to come back to France. The most important thing was to find a good project where I would feel loved, where I would play. I no longer wanted to return to Everton, I canceled with them.”
