Hertha Berlin defender Jonjoe Kenny has explained why he had to leave Everton this summer, even though he’s bought his family a house in Liverpool.
The full-back brought an end to a nine-year stay with the Toffees this summer when he elected to leave Goodison Park at the end of his contract.
He had been with Everton since he was a youngster, moving up the youth ranks before being promoted to the first team set up in 2017.
Kenny went on to make 69 appearances in all competitions for the club but struggled to establish himself ahead of Seamus Coleman, even after the Irishman’s long injury layoff.
A successful loan spell at Schalke gave him a taste of first-team football elsewhere in 2019/20 and so when it came time to make a decision about his future this summer he elected to move back to Germany with Hertha Berlin.
It’s a decision he was praised for at the time by Everton fans and he’s now explained it in further detail.
“I love the 16 years I spent at Everton since I was a youngster,” he told BZ-Berlin.
“And I love my time under Frank Lampard. But I felt I was ready for a change. Ready to become a man and a personality in my own right.
“To do that, I had to leave England and my comfort zone. Coming here was a great choice.
“It was always my biggest dream to buy my family a house. They have supported me day in day out with so much energy, been involved in everything since I started at Everton when I was nine.
“When I was unwell, they were unwell. If I was doing well, they were doing well. My parents and sister always gave me guidance and support.”
