Jill Scott has returned to Everton on loan from Manchester City for the rest of the season. Previously, the 33-year-old played for the team for seven years between 2006 to 2013, guiding them to Premier League Cup win in 2008 and FA Women’s Cup in 2010.
✍️ | We are delighted to confirm the loan signing of @Lionesses great @JillScottJS8 for the remainder of the 2020/21 campaign.#EFC 🔵
— Everton Women (@EvertonWomen) January 21, 2021
Everton boss Willie Kirk seemed excited about the move. Calling her achievements in the game incredible, he said, “ I am delighted to be able to bring Jill back to the club. She was a pivotal figure at Everton when the Women’s Super League was first formed and went on to become a significant part of Manchester City establishing themselves as one of the top clubs in this country.”
He further stated that despite being on a loan deal until the end of the season, Scott can have a long-term impact on the team’s journey. Scott has been part of Man City since 2014. She signed a new two-year contract with City last summer, where she combined her playing career with a coaching role. During her time at the club, Scott won the Women’s Super League title, three FA Women’s Cups and three WSL Continental Cups. Now, she returns to her former club Everton to get more playing time. The Toffees are currently fifth in the WSL table, four points behind City.
Addressing this move on the club’s official website, City’s head coach Gareth Taylor said, “We’re fully supportive of Jill’s decision to go out on loan. She’s an important figure at Manchester City, but we understand her desire to play on a more regular basis this year and wish her well in that quest.”
Scott has a tremendous club as well as international record. She has played for England at four World Cups and helped them reach the semi-finals in 2015 and 2019. Having played 149 matches for the Lionesses (where she has scored 25 goals), she is second only to Fara Williams on England’s all-time appearances list.
Scott could potentially make her Everton return against Tottenham in the WSL on Sunday, having scored her first goal of the season in City’s recent 7-0 victory over Aston Villa.