James, you’re Everton’s first signing of the summer.
Your reaction to joining the Club?
I’m excited to be here.
I’m really looking forward to the years ahead and I’m just thankful for the opportunity
that I’ve been given,
You were sought after by other clubs.
What were the main factors to you joining Everton?
There’s a few.
Speaking to the manager, first of all, which is very important – seeing what he wants
from his players and from his team, what he saw in me and why he wanted to sign me.
Speaking to Kevin Thelwell was also important to me decision.
And then also the Everton fans, seeing the way the team struggled last season but how
the fanbase were behind them and the way they supported them right until the end to get
the lads over the line.
What did Frank say to make you feel you can be a key part of Everton?
I think he recognised my strengths, saw how I could fit into his system and hopefully
improve the team.
And he also saw my character, that what I can bring to a group will be good and positive.
I’ve developed leadership skills through my years playing football.
Hopefully I can bring that to this team and, with the talent this squad has got, hopefully
we can have a really good season.
Was your leadership a quality that Frank discussed with you?
Yes, that was something that was just brought out of me at Burnley.
I was made captain a few times, and then being the position I’m in and the qualities that
I have, I feel it’s a real strength in my game.
I hope I can bring that to this group.
How influential was Kevin in bringing you here?
He was.
He tried to sign me when he was at Wolves and I was at Oldham so he’s known about
me for a long time.
It’s gone full circle and he’s managed to sign me in the end and I’m just super
happy to be here.
It’s a massive club.
Being from down the road in Manchester, you know how big this team is so I’m really
looking forward to it.
Being from the area, you know all about Everton’s history and ambition…
As I said before, you saw during a difficult season last year how big this fanbase is.
A lot of fans could have turned against their team in a situation of struggle but Everton
fans got behind their team more than ever.
Growing up down the road, I also saw a lot of successful times for Everton, how good
there were then, and hopefully we can bring back the good times.
Seeing those magnificent scenes at Goodison last season, what did you make of that?
I thought it was incredible, to be honest.
You don’t often see it from any fanbase so to see it from a team that was struggling
at the time is just incredible.
Fair play to the fans, I think it’s a massive factor about this club.
Hopefully successful times are ahead and the fans can get something that they really enjoy.
How much are you looking forward to having Evertonians on your side?
I’ve enjoyed every minute of playing at Goodison Park before.
Seeing the fanbase and the atmosphere.
I just can’t wait to get out there and play there myself.
Now you’re an Evertonian, what do you hope to achieve this season?
I know last year was difficult as a club but hopefully there is a successful season ahead.
There’s a talented squad here and I know that because I’ve played against them.
Hopefully I can bring some qualities to that and, with a few more additions, I’m sure
we’re in for a good season.
Did you feel the ambition when you were speaking to Kevin and Frank?
That’s really important for me.
I’m an ambitious person, I want to achieve, I want to win things so I’ve not just come
here for a nice time.
I’ve come here to be successful.
Seen the plans and progress of the new stadium?
I’ve seen the plans and the CGI footage.
It’s massively impressive and I look forward to getting down there and seeing how it’s
getting on.
As a player, what qualities will you bring to Everton?
First and foremost, I’m a defender.
That part of my game is something I’ve really worked on the past few years to become the
best defender possible.
I want to bring that to the team, but also I feel like I’m a good football player.
I can move the ball well, I can pass, I can attack the ball in the other box, so I feel
like I’ve got myself in a good place as player to be successful at a club like Everton.
Statistics last season: 1st in PL for clearances and shots blocked, 2nd for aerial duels won.
Across all those categories, in the top 3% of defenders across Europe’s top five leagues.
Shows your love of defending?
It’s my job.
I enjoy it, I thrive off it and when you hear stats like that it makes you feel even better
about how I’ve played.
Hopefully I can bring those qualities to this team and more, because I do think I’ve got
a good all-round game.
Added to playing attributes, you mentioned about your leadership and experience.
Feel you can bring that to the dressing room?
I hope so.
It’s difficult at first when you’re a new player in a group, you have to settle
in, get to know the players and how they react in certain ways.
But I want to bring my leadership skills and experience and there’s some good young talented
players here so I’d like to guide them in whichever way possible both on and off the
pitch.
Plenty of competition for the centre-back spots.
Hope that can bring the best out of you and teammates?
Of course, there’s some very good players here.
I’ve played with Keano, I know how good he is, and I’ve played against other lads
here.
Competition is important, it pushes you on and makes you want to play better, so I look
forward to getting out there and training with the lads.
It’s a squad game so everyone is in it together for a successful season.
You mention Michael Keane.
You made your Burnley debut replacing him as a substitute.
Good to have a familiar face from the start at Everton?
Yes, it’s always nice to have someone you know you can go to when you’re settling
into a new group.
Keano’s a great lad and someone I’ve always kept in touch with ever since he left Burnley.
It’s nice to join up with him again and I look forward to seeing him.
Did you speak to Michael or any other player prior to joining Everton?
I didn’t just because I didn’t want to open my mouth too early but, speaking to Keano
through the years, I know how much he loves this club and know how big the Club is just
from speaking to him.
I know what I’ve got here and I look forward to it.
The manager shows flexibility in the systems he played last season – shifting between
four to five at the back.
Are you comfortable in a variety of those formations?
From the outside, some may expect me to have played 4-4-2 for most of my career but I have
played a lot of different formations and systems and enjoyed them all.
I feel like I’m a flexible player who can fit into any system.
You came up through the divisions.
How have you improved in recent seasons?
Definitely defensively.
As I was coming through the leagues, from League One to the Championship, I was more
known as a ball-playing defender so when I went to Burnley I tried to bring out the defensive
side of my game which has definitely caught up to the offensive side of my game.
Hopefully, that balances itself out now and I’ve turned myself into a good player who
can do a good job for this club.
It's a World Cup year.
You’ve earned England caps under Gareth Southgate.
Now you’ve joined Everton, chance to stake a claim for Qatar?
The ambition is still there for me.
I’ve always said my club football is the most important because if you get that right,
international football will come.
I’ve just got to do my job for this club which I’m really excited about, and if I
play well then we’ll see what happens coming into the winter.
Message to Evertonians?
I’m really happy to be here.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to join a club like this and I look forward to getting
out at Goodison Park and playing.