Niels Nkounkou, the Eintracht Frankfurt defender, has disclosed his surprise and disappointment at his unexpected departure from Everton to Saint-Etienne. In an interview with Peuple Vert, he reflected on his time at Saint-Etienne and his permanent transfer from Everton in July 2023.
Nkounkou had been with Goodison Park since July 2020, joining in a €270k deal from Marseille B, marking Carlo Ancelotti’s inaugural signing. After brief stints in the first team, he was loaned out to various clubs, including Standard Liege, Cardiff, and eventually Saint-Etienne.
His time at Saint-Etienne proved to be fruitful, where he showcased his talent with six goals and eight assists in 21 games between January and the season’s end. Impressed, the French side opted to make his move permanent in the summer before selling him to Eintracht Frankfurt for a substantial profit.
However, it appears Nkounkou did not anticipate this outcome and had expressed his desire to return to Everton after his loan spell in France. He revealed the intricacies of the situation, mentioning the high option set by Everton that Saint-Etienne couldn’t afford initially, leading them to quietly agree to it. Despite his wish to go back to Everton, circumstances led to his eventual move to Eintracht Frankfurt.