Player admits he ‘underestimated’ league after Everton exit – Was ‘surprised’ by how good it was

Standard Liege midfielder Isaac Price has admitted he underestimated the strength of the Belgian league before arriving from Everton in the summer.

The youngster has been speaking to Le Soir about his time in Belgium so far, after joining Standard on a free transfer from Everton in the summer transfer window.

The 20-year-old had spent the entirety of his young career with Everton before that point, joining them as a youngster and moving up from the U18s to the U23’s in recent years.

He was handed his debut in the Everton first team at the end of the 2021/22 season, managing 12 minutes against Arsenal and made a further two appearances, a 32-minute appearance against Brighton and one minute against Boreham Wood.

The Blues had been keen to keep him long-term, but he elected to reject that possibility and instead moved to Standard Liege in search of regular football.

He’s managed 18 appearances in the league so far, featuring in 51% of the available minutes, but now admits that he hadn’t expected to find the Belgian top flight as difficult as he has done.

“I actually underestimated the championship,” he said.

“I thought we played it a little slower and it was less technical. I was surprised by the physical dimension, which is important in Belgium.

“But thanks to this, while I come from the U21 world in England, I learned a lot alongside elements of experience, and today I know the teams of this championship better.”