James Garner has impressed for Everton since he moved to the club from Manchester United on the final day of the 2022 summer transfer window
15:36, 06 Apr 2026Updated 15:37, 06 Apr 2026
Dwight McNeil and James Garner during Everton’s defeat to Arsenal(Image: (Marc Atkins/Getty Images))
Former Manchester United coach Nicky Butt has explained why James Garner was allowed to leave the club and join Everton. Garner joined United’s academy at the age of eight and rose through the youth ranks before breaking into the first team, making seven appearances.
Following an impressive spell at Nottingham Forest during the 2021/22 campaign, helping the Midlands outfit clinch promotion from the Sky Bet Championship, several United supporters were determined to see him given an opportunity at Old Trafford. But Garner instead joined Everton on deadline day back in the summer of 2022 in a permanent deal worth £15m.
Garner has since gone on to become a mainstay for the Blues, and his commitment to the club’s cause cannot be doubted, given the number of positions he has played.
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The midfielder has been one of his side’s standout stars this season and saw his impressive form rewarded when he was named in Thomas Tuchel’s 35-man squad for the recent friendlies with Uruguay and Japan.
A place in Tuchel’s World Cup squad is now within reach for Garner, who was coached by Butt during his time at United.
And explaining why the now England international was allowed to leave, Butt has revealed it was down to Garner not having the ability at the time to play in United’s first-team at the time.
“I had him as a young kid at United, he’s a great lad,” he said, via Paddy Power. “He’s got it all, he can pass through the lines, he can defend, he can tackle, he can sprint.
James Garner in action for Everton against Chelsea(Image: (Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images))
“He’s like a poorer man’s version of (Steven) Gerrard. Not as good as Gerrard, but he’s in that mould; he can do everything as a modern-day midfielder.
“He will definitely be going [to the World Cup] after that, he’s got his ticket on the plane. I don’t see why he couldn’t be back at United. He’s performing well, he’s playing for a big club with a big expectation with their crowd.
“Obviously they’re not expected to go and win the Premier League, but they’re expected to win and they’ve got passionate support. So he plays under pressure every week, he knows Man United and yeah, he’s doing amazingly well now.
“He’s got to do it again next season, it’s a bit soon to go and pay big money for him now, but I’m confident he can go and do it.
“At the time [Butt was in charge of the academy], Jimmy wasn’t at the level to burst into United and play regularly. It wasn’t working, so quite rightly, he moved on and kick-started his career.
“Jimmy is a bit like the player I was. Not the most talented, but his drive and desire to get to the top is up there with anybody I’ve seen.”
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