Reunion at Everton
After a short break at home with his family, Julien arrived back in Liverpool for Everton’s first day of pre-season. As he stepped through the doors at Bellefield, he was greeted by a firm handshake and a “Good to see you again, Julien!”—David Moyes, now marshalling Everton, welcomed his former Preston player as an old acquaintance. That little nod of familiarity set the tone: while the squad was buzzing with anticipation, Julien wasn’t just another newcomer.
The opening weeks were demanding. Moyes’ sessions were as intense as ever: double training most days, tactical matches, gym circuits, all under the relentless Merseyside summer drizzle. But it was different this time. The standards, the pace, the competition—it all felt a notch higher than in the Championship. Sometimes, during traings and fitness tests, Julien could sense that some of his teammates had an extra gear he was reaching for. No one said it, but the difference was there.
There was an early trip to Austria for a week’s training camp. Early mornings brought mountain sprints, tactical sessions, and closed-door friendlies against strong European sides. Julien played well in spells, picking up an assist against Sturm Graz, but didn’t quite stand out in the way he’d hoped.
Meanwhile, the transfer window was buzzing with rumors. Sunderland and Charlton inquired about a loan, while two mid-table Ligue 1 clubs—Nantes and Sochaux—put in offers for a full transfer. Even a German scout from Mainz was spotted chatting with Julien’s agent (and father) after a friendly. Moyes called him in for a talk: “You know what I think you can bring, but Premier League football’s another beast. Show me you want it.”
As July rolled into August, nothing was decided—yet. Julien gave his all, but a sense of uncertainty lingered, hanging in the background of every dressing-room laugh and recovery jog. For now, the blue shirt was his—training hard, fighting for a place.
See you next with a career defining season
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