Everton’s Jonjoe Kenny took the brave decision to go abroad.
Everton defender Jonjoe Kenny has told the Bundesliga’s official website that the ‘astonishing’ impact made by Jadon Sancho in Germany’s top flight convinced him to test himself in the same league.
The 22-year-old left Everton to join Schalke on a season-long loan earlier this month.
There are more and more English talents kick-starting their senior careers in Germany, with Borussia Dortmund star Sancho and Arsenal-owned Reiss Nelson impressing there last season.
Sancho scored 12 and set up 14 goals for Dortmund in the Bundesliga last term, while fellow 19-year-old Nelson, on loan at Hoffenheim, scored seven.
Kenny, who began his career with the Toffees, only managed 11 starts under Marco Silva in all competitions last season, and the Finch Farm product claims that the success of his compatriots meant that he didn’t hesitate to join the German outfit this summer.
He told the league’s official website: “When you see what Jadon Sancho has been doing in the Bundesliga since joining Dortmund, it’s astonishing. Even at his age, he has achieved great things and managed to become one of the biggest stars of English football.
“Reiss had a very good experience, too. He developed a lot and raved about the Bundesliga – especially the stadiums and fans. He felt really good at Hoffenheim and advised me to make the move to Germany.
“The Bundesliga can be a good step for young Englishmen. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Fortune favours the brave and it’ll be so interesting to see how the Everton talent gets on.
He clearly has a big future in the game – if not, he wouldn’t be at a club like Schalke – and a good loan spell might well convince Silva to keep him at Goodison Park going into the 2020-21 campaign.
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