Jean-Philippe Gbamin (28) was considered a great promise when he moved from Mainz 05 to Everton FC in 2019. Four years later, the situation has changed fundamentally – there are reasons for the seemingly surprising transfer
Two months of one-on-one training with a fitness coach and a physiotherapist and nutritionist can feel like a long time. A very long time. As of this Monday, Jean-Philippe Gbamin’s time without a club is finally over. The former Mainz player has signed a contract until the summer of 2024 with US Dunkerque, who are bottom of the Ligue 2 table – even if the club has not yet communicated this.
“It looks like a strange choice”, “But now he’s closer to his family and can recommend himself for the Africa Cup. He has to play for that.”
The central midfielder has six games left in the relegation battle to get back into rhythm. Whether that will be enough for the 17-time Ivory Coast international to be called up by coach Jean-Louis Gasset after months of absence is uncertain
The Achilles tendon snapped in soccer tennis
Just over four years ago, Everton FC paid €25 million to 1. FSV Mainz 05 in August 2019. Gbamin and his advisor deliberately did not choose a top club at the time in order to gradually adapt to the intensive Premier League. This plan went badly wrong.
At the Toffees, Gbamin was supposed to fill the gap left by Idrissa Gueye’s €32 million move to Paris St. Germain. But his body did not cooperate. After too short a summer break, the ailing Ivorian was thrown straight into the deep end, says Collignon.
No careful introduction via the reserve team, as we know it from Germany or France. On matchday 2 against Watford (1:0), the strong six-man played over 90 minutes.
The result: Gbamin suffered a serious injury to his right thigh, underwent surgery and was out for a long time. When he returned, the pandemic had soccer in its grip. To make matters worse, it was only a few weeks before he was laid up again: he ruptured his Achilles tendon while playing soccer, resulting in a ten-month break. By the next comeback, Carlo Ancelotti was already history, Rafael Benitez was in charge – and had little use for the convalescent
“From then on, he could smile again “
“It was a nightmare,” says Collignon. “But he will learn from it.” In future, Gbamin will communicate more clearly when he is not really fit. Both sides, Everton and the midfielder, had made mistakes.
He went on loan to ZSKA Moscow in February 2022, where he was immediately part of the squad, and then to Trabzonspor in August. Because the Turkish club had stopped paying the ambitious midfielder a salary in the meantime, he wanted to break off the loan. Hertha BSC would have liked to acquire Gbamin in January of this year, as coach Sandro Schwarz knew him from Mainz. However, the deal fell through due to the veto of parent club Everton.
A return to England in the summer was no longer an option for Gbamin. According to his advisor, the parties terminated the contract 20 minutes before the deadline day expired. Just in time for him to join another club at any time during the season. “From then on, he was able to smile again,” says Collignon.
For 5000 euros a month, he employed a private mini-staff
According to his advisor, the professional gave up the equivalent of more than five million euros in salary for the last year of his contract in order to finally feel free again. However, a suitable new employer was still a long way off. The worst possible scenario for the Ivorian in his prime.
Collignon reports that he has been in contact with various Bundesliga clubs in recent months. But no club saw a need for Gbamin’s position. The 28-year-old would have favored a move back to Germany. He employed a private mini-staff for around 5,000 euros a month and kept himself fit – as best he could without team training
So now Dunkirk, on the North Sea, not far from the Belgian border. Both sides should benefit from the deal, the club in the relegation battle and the player to make himself interesting again. In the summer, Gbamin should be able to continue his first-class career, preferably in the Bundesliga. If his body plays along
