€30m boyhood Liverpool fan joins Everton after Klopp snub
Jesper Lindstrom has joined Everton from Napoli.
The Danish attacker was in need of a change of scenery after a very disappointing season in Italy. Last summer, Lindstrom seemingly had the world at his feet, being linked with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool.
However, the former Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder ultimately decided to join reigning Serie A champions Napoli in a €30 million deal, citing better prospects of game time as the driving factor behind his decision.
Premier League summer transfers 2024 – All the Done Deals
“There was Liverpool after all,” he told Tipsbladet last year, “but would I get playing time? Would it be smart to go to Liverpool? I’m a Liverpool fan, that’s well-known, so it could have been an insanely cool experience.”
“But if I’m not playing, I might as well sit and watch them on TV for another club. I’m at an age now where I have to play some football. That’s why I think Napoli is a good change. It is a top club in the world and they have said that I will play and I will get a lot of chances.”
Lindstrom joins Everton
However, Napoli did not keep their promise, with Lindstrom only featuring in 587 minutes across all competitions as the Italians slumped to a tenth-place finish in Serie A.
In recent weeks, Napoli had begun looking at alternatives for the versatile attacker, who can feature as an attacking midfielder and winger. There was interest in ex-Man Utd man Mason Greenwood, but Napoli could not proceed with a move unless they managed to get Lindstrom off the books.
Saudi Pro League summer transfers 2024 – All the Done Deals
This led to Aston Villa and Everton taking an interest in the Dane, though Greenwood joined Marseille in the meantime. Nevertheless, Napoli have now managed to offload the 24-year-old.
Boyhood Liverpool fan Lindstrom has now joined Everton on a one-year, €2.5 million loan with a €22.5m option to buy, which would see him sign a contract until 2029 if triggered. He did get his big move to Merseyside after all.