James Tarkowski’s free transfer to Everton is done but isn’t expected be announced until the end of the month when his contract at Burnley officially expires because of the sensitive relationship between the two clubs at present. Tarkowski is understood to have agreed terms with Frank Lampard’s side with his contract at Turf Moor expiring this summer.
Ahead of the Premier League releasing its retained and released lists, Burnley confirmed last Friday that the 29-year-old was one of 14 professionals departing the Clarets in the current transfer window having “expressed his desire earlier in the season to seek an opportunity elsewhere when his contract expires, and he will also depart after more than 200 appearances for the club.”
However, given that there is a delicate situation between the clubs – the two fought it out in a relegation battle in the latter stages of the 2021/22 season, and after Everton secured their top flight status with a 3-2 comeback victory over Crystal Palace in their final home game, reports emerged that Burnley and fellow strugglers Leeds United had written to the Premier League outlining concerns about the Blues potentially breaching financial rules – Goodison Park chiefs look set to hang fire on making a formal announcement over Tarkowski’s signing until his free agency kicks in.
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Following Burnley and Leeds’s threat – the Yorkshire club would subsequently avoid the drop themselves through a dramatic stoppage-time win at Brentford on the final day of the campaign – Everton reiterated their stance that they worked closely with the Premier League and external auditors to ensure they had always complied with the laws and were “comfortable” with the situation.
Manchester-born centre-back Tarkowski, capped twice for England, joined Burnley from Brentford on February 1, 2016 and has made more than 30 Premier League appearances in each of the past five seasons.
