Joao Virginia’s loan move to Sporting Lisbon will be confirmed today.
The Everton goalkeeper will spend the season with the Portuguese champions, who have included an option to buy the 21-year-old permanently next summer.
Virginia made his first-team breakthrough at Everton last season, playing in both the Premier League and FA Cup when he deputised for the injured Jordan Pickford.
But with the arrival of Asmir Begovic as an experienced back-up to Pickford, the plan was always to send Virginia out on loan.
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And today his switch to Sporting will be finalised but could become a permanent transfer next year if the Lisbon giants exercise the clause in the agreement with Everton.
Everton signed Virginia in the summer of 2018 from Arsenal and the former Benfica academy player was a stand-out player as the club’s under-23s won the Premier League 2 title.
