Everton rejected the chance to bring Erling Haaland to the club as a teenager
Former Toffees star Aaron Lennon revealed how he met Haaland at the club
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By RYAN WALKER
Published: 02:50 EST, 20 December 2024 | Updated: 02:52 EST, 20 December 2024
Former Everton star Aaron Lennon has revealed how the club's previous owner Farhad Moshiri sensationally rejected the chance to sign Erling Haaland when the player was available for just £2million.
Haaland has been amongst the Premier League's standout performers ever since joining Man City in a £51m move from Borussia Dortmund two-years ago and has been integral in achieving unrivalled success.
The Norwegian's stunning goalscoring form has led City to consecutive English league titles, the FA Cup, Champions League and Club World Cup, while Haaland has also won a host of individual accolades.
Meanwhile, Everton have been constantly battling relegation during the same period under former owner Moshiri who was bought out on Thursday by The Friedkin Group.
Moshiri seriously splashed a whopping £671m on signings during his eight year ownership stint but many of those players failed to deliver and Lennon has now revealed how Haaland could have been signed as a youngster.
Lennon joined the Toffees during the latter stages of his playing career, going on to make 77 appearances for the club, and could have found himself starring alongside Haaland in what would have been a cheap deal for Everton at the time.
Erling Haaland could have joined Everton as a youngster after being given a tour of the club
Haaland has been amongst the Premier League 's standout performers ever since joining Man City in a £51m move from Borussia Dortmund two-years ago
Former Everton star Aaron Lennon (pictured) revealed how the club ignored the chance to sign Haaland
The now-retired star explained that Haaland was being given a tour of the club as a teenager and he came face-to-face with the prolific goalscorer during a brief exchange.
'I remember Erling Haaland walking in the building with Steve Walsh, coming up to me in the physio room, Steve introduced him to me like "oh look we've got Haaland, you know his dad Alfie? The Leeds boy. Hopefully we're going to have him here",' Lennon told the BBC's Football Daily show.
'I was like oh wow I've not heard much of him, I think he was 15 or 16 years old and never seen him again and I think they could have had him for two or three million.
'I think Moshiri didn't sign of on that and can you imagine, Haaland would have signed for Everton,' he added.
Former Everton owner Farhad Moshiri (pictured) rejected the chance to sign Haaland for just £2m
Everton have instead seen investment in several strikers fail since then with the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin (pictured)
Everton have instead seen investment in several strikers fail since then with the likes of Cenk Tosun , Ademola Lookman, Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all struggling.
Haaland eventually ended up staying at boyhood club Molde before later joining RB Salzburg and then Borussia Dortmund where he instantly attracted attention of the world's biggest clubs.
City eventually made their move for the 24-year-old and have watched Haaland become one of the world's best by scoring 108 goals in just 121 appearances.
However, Haaland is currently enduring his worst spell in England amidst City's torrid struggles that has seen Pep Guardiola's side lose eight of their last 12 matches.