Garner was 'disappointed' to leave Man United for Everton

James Garner said he had to leave Manchester United for Everton to ensure he was a valued member of the team.

Garner, 21, moved to Goodison Park this summer in a £15million switch, after loan spells with Watford and Nottingham Forest, including aiding the latter with their promotion to the Premier League last season.

While the England under-21 international had been at Man United since he was part of their under-8s, he knew it was time to move away, coinciding with news from the Red Devils that they were considering a sale.

Garner told The Times: 'In the moment it is very disappointing. That was the club that I trained with five times a week for years and years and years, that I made my debut with.

'But I didn’t want to stagnate. I didn’t want to stay there really and when they said I could leave also, I was in agreement with that. I just think it all made sense. I had two good seasons on loan and returned to United in the summer.

'I know in myself I wouldn’t have played if I had stayed. I knew it was the perfect time now, at 21, to move on and try and stake my claim somewhere else and hopefully find a home, which I have now in Everton. Where I am at in my career now, I didn’t just want to be an extra body or I didn’t want to just be a spare player in training.

'Last season, I was one of the main players in Forest’s team and that is what I want to be. I don’t want to be just another player who is there for numbers in training. I want to be a main part of the team whether that is a starter or coming off the bench.'

Garner played just seven times for Manchester United's senior side since his debut in 2019, and it seemed like further opportunities would be scarce under Erik ten Hag.

The Birkenhead-born player also felt that returning to development football, after experiencing the highs of the senior game with Nottingham Forest, would be a step backwards. Instead, he was able to find a new opportunity with the Toffees.

He has come off the bench to feature in six league games for Frank Lampard's Everton since his move. His full debut for the Toffees could come as part of Everton's Carabao Cup campaign against AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday.

Garner has represented England from the under-17s through to their age ratings, receiving his first call-up at the under-21 level last summer.