#4: Jack Rodwell
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Breaking into Everton’s first-team setup in the 2008/9 season, it appeared that the Toffees had discovered another gem in Jack Rodwell. A powerful midfielder who could both play as a holder or an attacker, it was thought that Rodwell had the potential to be a key player for Everton – and England too – for years to come.
Indeed, after an impressive 2010/11 season Rodwell was handed his first England caps against Spain and Sweden. It seemed like the future was bright, despite injuries restricting him to only 17 appearances in 2011/12.
Then Manchester City came knocking. Despite having a glut of world-class midfielders – Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri and David Silva, for example – Rodwell decided to make the move and signed with the Citizens for £12m. It turned out to be the worst possible move for his career.
Rodwell made just 15 appearances for City in his first full season and then only 5 in his second, and although injuries contributed to that, it was quite clear that in a squad full of seasoned internationals he was a little out of his depth.
He’s since moved on to Sunderland, but while he has played much more, he hasn’t gotten anywhere near the form he displayed at Everton that allowed him to break into the England setup.
