Everton’s transfer signing from Olympique Lyonnais Jake O’Brien stands 6ft 6in tall
Everton’s fifth arrival of the summer Jake O’Brien is their biggest signing of the transfer window – literally, given that he is an imposing 6ft 6in tall – and his acquisition enables the Blues to strengthen their grip on one Premier League table that they’re already topping. Throughout Everton’s 146-year history, only 6ft 8in Lacina Traore, nicknamed ‘Le Grand Arbe’ (The Big Tree) who turned out for just 62 minutes on loan from Monaco a decade ago and is the joint biggest player in Premier League history alongside goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon from Romania who played for Manchester City, Sunderland and Watford, is taller.
O’Brien, whose stature might seem more common in the NBA – he’s the same height as the legendary Michael Jordan – immediately ties another former custodian, Asmir Begovic as the Blues’ second-tallest player of all-time ahead of a clutch of names who are an inch smaller, including Yerry Mina and his new team-mates Jarrad Branthwaite and Reece Welch. As well as keeping them out at the back, the Irish international’s size also makes him a threat in the opposition penalty area.
The 23-year-old netted five goals for Olympique Lyonnais last season – three of which were headers – and Comparisonator shows his goals per 90 minutes (0.14) matches the figure of Premier League leaders in his position, Cristian Romero of Tottenham Hotspur, Marcos Senesi of Bournemouth and Jarrell Quansah of Liverpool. When it comes to expected goals (xG), only Newcastle United’s Dan Burn (also 6ft 6in) can better his 0.11 with a score of 0.16 while his shots on target average of 0.28 would place him fourth in a section led by Lewis Dunk of Brighton & Hove Albion (0.31).
