"I love Spain" – Everton player wants La Liga move, feels he can take next step

03/22/2025 05:16 AM

Everton goalkeeper João Virgínia has expressed his desire to make a switch to La Liga at some point in the future.

Estadio Deportivo cover comments made by the 25-year-old on his current situation with the Toffees, about his future and the possibility of moving to Spain.

Everton signed Virgínia initially for their academy in 2018 and promoted him to the senior team a year later.

The stopper was on loan to Reading, Sporting and SC Cambuur for three seasons between 2019 and 2023. He’s been a backup for Everton’s first-choice goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford, and has settled for minutes in the cup competitions.

Virgínia played 180 minutes from two games this season and isn’t pleased with it. He has made it clear that he no longer wants to be the second choice.

“As a player, my ambition isn’t to be a second choice for long, but that’s the reality I have at Everton. What I have to do is work every day and push Pickford to be better as well,” he said.

“I think the most important thing now is playing time. With minutes comes experience. So, the most important thing now will be playing, and I think that’s the point that will take me to another level.”

The player’s contract expires at the end of this season and has to make a decision on his future.

On March 3rd, Estadio Deportivo reported he has a concrete option of moving to Spain as a free agent in the summer window. They also said Benfica and unnamed Premier League clubs are showing interest in Virgínia.

The goalkeeper, who was born in Portugal, has now opened the door to make a switch to La Liga.

“The Spanish league is a league I love. Perhaps playing there one day would be an excellent option for me, but it’s too early to talk about it. We have to see what happens in the market,” Virgínia explained.

“There are many similarities [between Spain and Portugal]; I love Spain, its culture, and it would be like coming home."

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