Roberto Martinez backed him to be ‘special’ but Shani Tarashaj’s Everton career looks over

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It appears Shani Tarashaj’s career at Everton has come to an end. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, the Swiss talent has joined Dutch outfit FC Emmen on a two-year loan deal. 

The two-year spell would take Tarashaj to the end of his current contract at Goodison Park, ending his torrid spell in English football. 

Back in January 2016, the then Everton boss Roberto Martinez signed Swiss international Shani Tarashaj from Grasshoppers Zurich. The fee involved, according to the Liverpool Echo, was around £3 million for a player that Martinez had high hopes for.

As reported by the Daily Post, Martinez called him ‘special’ and clearly felt he was a future Everton first-team star. 

“I feel he is going to bring something very, very special to us. He is probably the best young talent in Swiss football.

“There are a couple of young players with a good reputation but I think he could have really good future…I feel that he’s going to get fans off their feet. He’s that type of young talent that we like to attract to Goodison.” 

There was no reason not to believe so. Tarashaj was already a full international for Switzerland and Everton fought off plenty of competition to complete his signature.  

The first problem was a change of manager. Martinez was soon gone and Ronald Koeman took over from the Spaniard. 

Tarashaj spent time on loan back with Grasshoppers, Eintracht Frankfurt and then once again at Grasshoppers. 

But since joining Everton, Tarashaj’s career has been blighted by injuries and illness. Last season, he made just 12 appearances back in Zurich as Grasshoppers were relegated from the Swiss top-flight. 

Now he is off to the Netherlands, having never played a first-team match for Everton. It looks like he never will. Martinez’s hopes for the young man have not proven accurate. Hopefully, the 24-year-old can get his career back on track going forward.