O'Brien's current-season form is up 78% on last season (Season 23→41), while his Rating climbed 80→85. That makes this his strongest season for form to date.

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2025/26	Everton · 13th	37	1	1	6.71	85	41
2024/25	Everton · 13th	20	2	0	6.91	80	23
2023/24	Lyon · 6th	27	4	2	6.91	83	32
2022/23	RWDMLoan · 1st	30	3	0	—	51	25
2021/22	Swindon Town · 6th	21	0	1	6.75	32	10

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 2 earlier seasons and 3 youth-team spells in the full career.

Republic of Ireland · international

Side	Apps	G
Republic of Ireland U21	11	0
Rep. Of Ireland	17	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Top-tier performerCentral defender

J. O'Brien is a 25-year-old central defender at Everton, rated 84.7 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 20th of 193 on scout potential in the Premier League. In his prime years, he has been an ever-present this season (91.5% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.53 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on O'Brien.

Judged on this season alone, O'Brien graded 41 — an excellent campaign that ranks top 9% of the 34 centre-backs in the Premier League, on 10 clean sheets and 2.53 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 23 → 41). Across the 5 seasons we hold, it's his best return yet.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 85, top 12% of the 34 centre-backs in the Premier League. At 25 O'Brien is in his prime years, and a market index of 101.6 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

A career still climbing — O'Brien is at his peak right now, and the curve hasn't flattened.

Peak: 2025/26Trending upBreakout: 2025/26Stepped up 2022/234 clubs

Current potentialTop 12% centre-backs · Premier League Current seasonTop 9% centre-backs · Premier League 3rd-best centre-back in the Premier League 20th in the Premier League · potential 4th-highest potential centre-back in the Premier League

84.7

Ratingi

4th of 34 centre-backs

41.1

Seasoni

developing / rotation level

91.5%

Minutes

near ever-present

2.53

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Everton finished 13th of 20 · a mid-table side

Apps

2.53

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

2.53 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 10 clean sheets across 37 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 1 assist — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 91.5% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Pedigree. Performing in a top-tier setting (team strength 93.7/100).

Watch points

Few red flags. No obvious weaknesses in the current-season profile — consistency is the next test.

Outlook

With a Rating of 84.7, O'Brien carries the 4th-highest potential of the centre-backs in the Premier League (top 12%). Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.53 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Approaching peak years; value is still building (price multiplier 2×) with the best seasons likely ahead.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %91.5%

Available fixtures38 of 38

Goals / 900.029

Assists / 900.029

Goal contribution / 900.057

Defensive actions / 902.53

Player flow

Goal involvements2

Cards / 900.201

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~102), then tapers with age. At 25, O'Brien sits on 101.6, at or near its peak. The blue line is O'Brien's projected Rating — 84.7 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the Premier League with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals1

Passing

Assists1

Defending

Tackles57

Interceptions15

Blocks16

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards6

Red cards1

Transfer history

€19.5M total transfer fees · 4 moves

EvertonJul 2024 – now€ 19.5M

Lyonuntil Jul 2024

Crystal Palace(back from loan)Jul 2023 – Jul 2024

RWDM(on loan)Aug 2022 – Jul 2023

Crystal PalaceJul 2022 – Aug 2022

Swindon Townuntil Jul 2022

About J. O'Brien

Jake O'Brien is a 25-year-old centre-back who plays for Everton, born on May 15, 2001 in Cork, standing 197 cm tall. He is from Republic of Ireland. Everton currently sit 4th of 20 in the Premier League.

This season

In the current season, J. O'Brien has made 37 appearances with 1 goal and 1 assist across 3,131 minutes, with 6 yellow cards.

J. O'Brien's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Everton face Bournemouth away in the Premier League.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates J. O'Brien at 84.7 with a Season form score of 41.1, ranking 20th of 193 centre-backs in the Premier League. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 2 career titles — among them the Challenger Pro League. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 7 recorded seasons, J. O'Brien has totalled 148 club appearances with 10 goals and 4 assists for 7 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2025/26, with 37 appearances for Everton.

J. O'Brien's career has also included time at Lyon, Crystal Palace, RWDM and Swindon Town.

On the international stage, J. O'Brien has represented Republic of Ireland U21 and Rep. Of Ireland — 28 caps in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Everton finished 13th of 20 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points