10 Interesting Facts About Jarrad Branthwaite From Youth Days in Cumbria
- Think Football Ideas
- Jun 24
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 26
Full Name: Jarrad Paul Branthwaite
Date of Birth: 27 June 2002
Place of Birth: Carlisle, Cumbria, England
Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.95 m)
Position: Centre-back
Current Club: Everton
Jersey Number: 32
Calm on the ball, tough in the tackle, and wise beyond his years, Jarrad Branthwaite has quickly become one of English football’s most talked-about young defenders. But beyond the clean sheets and crunching challenges lies a story filled with some serious Cumbrian grit.
Whether you're a Toffees die-hard, an England hopeful watcher, or just discovering this towering talent, we've compiled 10 fascinating insights that paint the full picture of the man behind Everton's number 32 shirt.
Below Are 10 Interesting Facts About Jarrad Branthwaite
1. He Was Born In Carlisle, And His Football Career Started With Carlisle United
Jarrad Branthwaite came into the world on June 27, 2002, right in the heart of Carlisle, a quiet northern city with a proud sporting spirit. But this wasn’t just the place he was born; it was where his footballing flame first flickered to life.
By age eight, Branthwaite had already stepped into Carlisle United’s youth ranks, trading schoolyard kickabouts for structured training and serious potential. Wigton to Carlisle United, it was local, it was real, and it was the beginning of something much bigger.
2. He Signed His First Professional Contract In February 2019
By February 2019, after nearly a decade of quiet graft through Carlisle’s youth ranks, Branthwaite’s efforts were rewarded with his first professional contract. It was a two-year deal, with an option to extend. It wasn't a blockbuster signing, but a real vote of faith.
The club had watched him grow from a boy into a composed teenage centre-back, and now they were backing him to take the next step. It was a moment that likely felt surreal. It wasn’t just schoolboy football anymore as the kid from Cumbria was now officially a professional.
3. His First Goal For Carlisle was In An EFL Trophy Match Against Morecambe
Every young player remembers their first goal, and for Branthwaite, that moment came on 12 November 2019, under the floodlights of the EFL Trophy. It was against Morecambe, and it wasn't just a footnote, it was a milestone.
The goal announced his presence in senior football with more than just a debut. Defenders aren’t usually judged by their goals, but scoring one that early in his career surely lit a spark. It was proof he wasn’t just there to fill a shirt, he could make a difference.
4. His Parents 'Paul And Donna Branthwaite' Were Very Supportive Of His Football Career
Behind every rising footballer is a support system, and for Jarrad Branthwaite, that meant Paul and Donna, his father and mother. They were with him from the playground to the pitch, from youth trials to contract talks. But one chapter stands out.
During a critical six-week period in Carlisle United’s academy, when his future was hanging in the balance, Paul stepped in, pushing him through gym sessions, demanding more, refusing to let him drift. That drive didn’t just earn Jarrad a scholarship, it shaped his mentality. He may be a Premier League player now, but his roots, grounded by his parents' belief, are unshakeable.
5. He Became A Toffee In 2020
On 13 January 2020, the big leap came, Jarrad Branthwaite was officially an Everton player. He’d moved from League Two to the Premier League in the space of a few months, and while the leap looked steep on paper, he took to it with surprising maturity.
His debut came just six months later, on 12 July, against Wolves. Tough opponent, big stage, but Branthwaite didn’t flinch. And when he was thrown into the deep end again, starting against Sheffield United, he didn’t just play, he impressed.
6. He Has Had Some Impressive Loan Stints
Loan spells were vital for Branthwaite. They made him sharper, tougher, and more battle-tested. His first came in January 2021, when he joined Blackburn Rovers in the Championship. Ten gritty games, all starts, gave him a crash course in physical football.
But it was his time at PSV Eindhoven in 2022–23 that really turned heads. From scoring goals to battling Ajax in the KNVB Cup Final, Branthwaite showed character. Dutch football helped refine his game, and reminded Everton what a talent they had on their hands.
7. Carlo Ancelotti Once Said It Is “A Pleasure” To Coach Branthwaite
You don’t hear Carlo Ancelotti, a man who’s managed legends, throw around compliments lightly. So when he said coaching Jarrad Branthwaite was “a pleasure,” it turned heads. The praise wasn’t just about ability, it was about attitude.
Branthwaite soaked up knowledge and thrived in high-pressure games. The Italian maestro admired the teenager’s humility, his hunger, his no-nonsense approach. That kind of endorsement doesn’t just boost a player’s confidence, it echoes through the walls of a club.
8. He Was Everton’s Players’ Player And Supporters’ Young Player Of The Season For 2023–24
When your teammates and your fans single you out for an award, you know you’ve done something right. That’s exactly what happened at the end of the 2023–24 season when Branthwaite scooped two major honours at Everton: the Players’ Player of the Season and Supporters’ Young Player of the Season.
It was for a campaign of rock-solid defending, mature leadership, and clutch performances, like his 94th-minute equaliser against Spurs in February. That season elevated his profile and cemented his status as a cornerstone of Everton’s future.
9. He Represents England Internationally
Branthwaite had dreamt of playing for England and that dream eventually became a reality. After steady climbs through the U19s, U20s, and U21s, including lifting the 2023 UEFA European U21 Championship, he finally got the senior call-up in March 2024.
Then came his debut on 3 June 2024 in a 3–0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. “It’s a dream come true,” he said, visibly moved. "To do it with my family there, it was massive." For a player once on the brink of missing out on a scholarship, wearing the Three Lions was more than a cap, it was a full-circle moment.
10. His Dad, Paul Branthwaite, Was A Former Top Rugby Player
Jarrad’s sporting blood didn’t come out of nowhere, his dad, Paul Branthwaite, was a standout rugby player in Cumbria. Tough, competitive, and relentless, Paul’s edge clearly rubbed off on his son.
Especially during that crucial six-week period when Jarrad’s football future was uncertain, as Paul’s rugby mentality came into play. He dragged Jarrad to the gym, demanded extra reps, and pushed him past comfort. It wasn’t just fatherly support, it was old-school grit.
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