The defender was linked to Bristol City about this time last year, but he ended up moving to Lyon, a French team, where he performed quite well.
The Toffees were intrigued by that and decided to pay a premium for his services.
If the Robins had completed the purchase, it appears they could have benefited in a number of ways. It will probably hurt for a while to see other people prevail in a move they were almost involved in.
The 23-year-old required regular playing time because his contract with Crystal Palace was about to expire and he had experience in the youth system.
The Ireland international placed himself in the spotlight during his successful loan stints in League Two with Swindon Town and Belgian team RWD Molenbeek, and the Robins were among the interested parties last summer.
But in the end, O’Brien would cross the water and join the Ligue 1 team for a cost of about £1 million, maybe because Lyon owner John Textor also owns a minority stake in Palace.
After a just twelve months and thirty-two games, the defender was set to return to England and rejoin Everton, reportedly for a fee of £16.4 million.
There is little doubt that O’Brien would have won the Championship after demonstrating his ability in the top division of France, being a consistent player on the team, and contributing five goals and two assists throughout all tournaments.
The five teams above the Robins, including play-off candidates Norwich City, conceded fewer goals than the Robins, who were already comparatively strong at the back. Could they have scored more points and stopped more goals with O’Brien’s contributions on the other end if they had brought someone of his caliber to the team? Fans of City will probably wonder for a while.
Despite finishing in 11th position, the team was not too far from becoming a play-off contender. Perhaps O’Brien and a few other players on the team should have added a little extra quality to seal the deal.
O’Brien would have had a significant influence off the field as well.
O’Brien wouldn’t have been at Ashton Gate for long if his performances at Groupama Stadium are any indication, especially in light of how closely Premier League teams have been observing Championship players lately.
The defender’s accrued value is probably higher after facing a plethora of elite players in one of Europe’s top five leagues than it would have been after a season in England’s second tier, but the Championship does hold its own against divisions on the continent, so the difference in the transfer fee this summer might not have been that great.
If City had invested the same amount on O’Brien as Lyon did, they would probably be looking at an eight-figure gain in less than a year. Lyon’s move has been brilliant, and if it had been the Robins, their funds would have increased significantly, allowing them to reinvest in other areas of the team to move closer to the play-off spots.
Despite Lyon’s interest, Textor’s relationship with both clubs may have meant that the deal was never going to work out for City, but many at Ashton Gate will still be disappointed that they hit gold but were unable to complete the transaction.
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