Everton have signed midfielder Tim Iroegbunam from Aston Villa.
Our writers — experts in transfers, tactics, data and football finance — have come together to rate this summer’s senior Premier League transfers in five categories, with each aspect given a score out of 100, to reach a total score out of 500. Hence, The Athletic 500. The ratings are explained in more detail here.
Below is our rating for this move.
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Tactical fit — 69/100
A look at how the player fits into his new club tactically, using Sentient Sports’ bespoke tactical-fit model, explained by our tactical expert.
Iroegbunam can play as the No 8, but excels in the deeper No 6 role.
Everton play more direct passing and a higher tempo to launch quick counter-attacks than Aston Villa. This system requires players who can execute effective vertical and through passes without resorting to risky long balls and Iroegbunam’s decision-making and press resistance make him a good fit for this as he is composed under pressure.
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Another aspect of Iroegbunam’s game is his proficiency in duels. With a similar physicality to new team-mate Amadou Onana, he can help win second balls and recover possession.
In this Premier League match against Wolves in March, Pablo Sarabia was driving with the ball when Iroegbunam perfectly timed his tackle to win possession before driving forward.
His ability to cover ground aligns with the high work rate demanded by Sean Dyche’s system. This makes him a valuable addition to Everton’s midfield, especially in matches where bypassing the midfield is necessary.
In this Europa Conference League game in May against Olympiacos, Chiquinho played a great aerial pass to forward Ayoub El Kaabi.
But Iroegbunam was there to cover the ground, get his body across, and win the ball.
Iroegbunam is only 20 and still inexperienced. He can be rash in tackles, which can leave space for opponents to exploit. He also sometimes holds onto the ball too long, which can be risky in dangerous areas. He will need to improve to perform in the Premier League but these weaknesses are typical for a young player and can be mitigated with experience and coaching.
Iroegbunam’s press resistance, decision-making, physicality and success in duels suit Everton’s tactical framework. With patience and regular playing time, he has the potential to become a key player for Everton.
Gillian Kasirye
Season rating: 59/100
Rating the player across last season, using statistics from The Athletic’s data team.
Given Villa’s need for experience and proven Premier League quality in the hunt for a Champions League spot, it is no surprise Iroegbunam found minutes hard to come by last season.
Across the Premier League, the Europa Conference League and the FA Cup, he made 15 appearances. All but two of those came from the substitutes’ bench, with his sole league start coming in Villa’s 4-1 defeat to Manchester City in April (No 47, below), where he was taken off after 63 minutes.
When he was called upon, Iroegbunam provided a calm head in possession and is capable of winning headers and covering ground well. It was not an outstanding first senior season, but he made an impression on Unai Emery, who sanctioned Leander Dendoncker’s departure in the January window to open his pathway.
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Were it not for Villa’s need to sell and alleviate profitability and sustainability regulations (PSR) concerns, he may have played a more considerable role next season. The depth of their squad will be tested after securing Champions League qualification.
Elias Burke
Gaming rating: 66/100
Rating the player according to Football Manager 2024’s data across current and potential ability.
According to Football Manager’s estimations, Iroegbunam is not ready to play a significant role at Everton — but if he reaches his potential, he will be a Premier League star and an England international.
On FM24, Iroegbunam starts with a current ability rating of 117. Incidentally, this is comparable to Lewis Dobbin (112), who is moving in the opposite direction to join Villa, and Leeds United’s 18-year-old midfield prospect, Archie Gray (119).
While Iroegbunam could play a role for Dyche next season, Everton are signing him for his potential — and Sports Interactive’s extensive scouting network rates that highly. If he does not exceed the floor of his potential, Iroegbunam would be a serviceable Premier League player on the current level of Alex Scott (132).
However, if he were to reach his ceiling of 160, Everton would be signing a player on the level of Enzo Fernandez (158).
For his gaming rating, we went for a potential rating of 145, which is in the middle of this range.
Elias Burke
Financial value rating: 60/100
A four-category summary of the player’s transfer in financial terms — and whether it makes sense for his new club.
Market value — 12/25
Everton paid £9million ($11.4m) for Iroegbunam, a sizeable fee for a player with only one Premier League start. Still, considering he is an England Under-20 international and has already played a full season in the Championship with Queens Park Rangers, it would be unfair to suggest Everton have paid considerably over the odds.
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Squad cost — 12/25
Given Everton’s financial troubles, they are not expected to spend heavily this summer, meaning this transfer will form a significant part of their overall budget. However, if Onana departs Goodison Park, Iroegbunam is a cost-friendly alternative offering similar midfield attributes, albeit with considerably less experience and pedigree.
GO DEEPER
Everton Transfer DealSheet: Financial uncertainty hampers long-term planning
Contract sensibility — 20/25
Iroegbunam arrives on a three-year contract. His contract is unlikely to be a burden on the wage structure as he was one of the lowest earners among regular squad players at Aston Villa. If he impresses, there is the potential to tie him down for a long time on improved terms. If he struggles, there will be no long-term burden.
Resale value — 16/25
Iroegbunam is probably not worth his transfer fee yet but in three to five years, he could be worth a lot more. Although his lack of first-team experience at Premier League level is a concern, he has proven himself in the Championship and was rated by Emery at Villa. Given he is expected to be a low earner, the length of his contract should not be a concern as it opens up the door to a bigger deal if he impresses in an Everton shirt.
Elias Burke
Risk or reward? 63/100
Is there a history of injury or other problems that could crop up and make this deal a bad one in retrospect? Or does the player come with a clean bill of health? Our expert takes a look.
Signing Iroegbunam significantly reduces Everton’s transfer budget but it is a move with a manageable level of risk and sensible strategic value.
The defensive midfielder has been a highly rated prospect since breaking through at West Bromwich Albion’s academy and has now played two full seasons as a professional. He is English, so will help with Everton’s homegrown quota, and he has a lofty ceiling and a relatively high floor. Worst comes to worst, Iroegbunam is a player who will contribute from the bench for Dyche for a cost-efficient salary.
He has also never been sidelined through injury as a professional, an important quality as Everton look to compete on three fronts next season.
Elias Burke
Overall rating: 317/500
(Top photo: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)