Mark Travers is on the verge of completing a move to Everton, with a medical currently underway ahead of a permanent transfer from Bournemouth, according to the Daily Echo.
The deal is expected to be worth around £4 million, plus additional clauses based on performance. It signals a major moment in the career of the Irish international, bringing his long spell on the south coast to a close after joining Bournemouth’s academy in the summer of 2016.
Over the course of nine years, Travers made significant progress with the Cherries, rising from youth prospect to Premier League goalkeeper. His senior debut came in memorable fashion in May 2019 when he kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Aged just under 20 at the time, he became one of the youngest keepers ever to appear in the top tier of English football and was named man of the match for his performance.
Travers’ development included several loan spells, starting with Weymouth in 2017, where he made an unexpected impact by scoring on his debut. He later joined Swindon Town in the 2020 to 2021 season, making eight appearances in League One.
The 2021 to 2022 Championship campaign proved to be his breakthrough year. As Bournemouth’s number one, Travers featured in 45 league matches, conceded just 39 goals, and kept 20 clean sheets. His efforts played a key role in the club’s promotion to the Premier League and earned him the Daily Echo Micky Cave Player of the Season award, as voted by supporters.
Despite signing a long-term contract after that successful season, his first-team opportunities became limited following the arrival of Brazilian goalkeeper Neto. During the 2022 to 2023 campaign, Neto became the preferred choice, restricting Travers to 15 appearances across all competitions.
To gain more regular football, Travers joined Stoke City on loan in the summer of 2023. He featured 14 times before being recalled to Bournemouth in October due to Neto sustaining an ankle injury. He remained with the squad into the 2024 to 2025 season, this time serving as understudy to Chelsea loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga.
While his game time remained limited, Travers delivered standout performances when selected. He impressed in a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa, where he kept the team in the contest until the closing stages. He also played in Bournemouth’s historic first-ever win over Manchester City and was called upon for both fixtures against Chelsea, as Kepa was ineligible to face his parent club.
In January, Travers made the decision to seek more consistent minutes and joined Middlesbrough in the Championship on loan. He went on to make 17 appearances for the Teesside club.
Now, with Chelsea’s Djordje Petrovic undergoing a medical at Bournemouth, the path has been cleared for Travers to finalise his move to Goodison Park and begin a new chapter in the Premier League.
