Nope. Didn’t see this one coming.
On these shores, the transfer window has long since been closed, locked with one of those tiny keys and hidden away behind a nice Velux blackout blind. Over in China, however, that sweet-scented transfer breeze is still rolling in.
We were reminded of this on Wednesday afternoon, with confirmation that Everton defender Tyias Browning has finalised a permanent switch to Guangzhou Evergrande – the Chinese Super League club with the quite magnificent motto: ‘Be the Best Forever’.
Browning has only made a handful of first team appearances for Everton, the club he joined at academy level in 2004. He also spent time on loan at Wigan Athletic, Preston North End and Sunderland. Having spent the majority of this season with Everton’s Under 23s, the 24-year-old has decided to head to China.
A tweet from Everton confirmed the deal, which will see them receive an undisclosed fee.
↩️ | Defender @tybrowning has joined Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande for an undisclosed fee. Good luck, Tyias! #EFC pic.twitter.com/CIKRuQbnrL
— Everton (@Everton) February 20, 2019
Though the move might appear to be a strange one for a player who is a born and bred scouser, the fact he is eligible to play for the Chinese national side through his grandfather might provide something of an explanation for his decision to leave Merseyside. Or maybe he just wants to make stacks of cash, instead?
