Everton target says he could have signed for a bigger club, but choose not to

Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey has told the Belgian media he could have joined a major club, but instead choose to join the Bundesliga side. Bailey signed for the German club in the last transfer window despite interest from Everton.

Voetbal Nieuws has reported on comments the youngster made when asked about why he took the decision to leave Genk for Bayer Leverkusen. Bailey believed it was time to leave the Belgian club to make the next step and Bayer Leverkusen seemed the right move at this stage of his career. The Jamaican thinks if he had signed for a bigger club then it may have been a step too soon.

“Here I have to work hard again to reach the level that feeling I had in Genk no more. That’s why I chose to join Leverkusen now and not in the summer. I could have gone to a much larger European club, but for me Leverkusen is the perfect next step. You do not want it all at once. I will reach the absolute top, but at my pace and my way,” said the Everton winter target.

During the last window we covered reports Everton were interested signing Bailey, along with Hull City. The Belgian press reported Everton were one of Bayer Leverkusen’s main rivals to land the 19-year-old, but a deal would have been complicated.

There’s no doubt about Bailey’s talent but it’s fair to say there’s been some doubt about the way his career has been managed, and those around him. There have also been suggestions of third party ownership, and despite reports claiming Bayer Leverkusen beat Everton, it’s likelier that Ronald Koeman and co decided to walk away.