David Moyes is embarking on one of the biggest squad rebuilds of the modern era
David Moyes acknowledges Everton supporters at Goodison Park after the win over Southampton. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
David Moyes acknowledges Everton supporters at Goodison Park after the win over Southampton. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Everton now have just 14 senior players contracted to the club. The end of June marked the official departure of 13 players - a combination of loanees and players whose deals expired.
The latter cohort included Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who confirmed his nine-year stint at the club was over in an emotional statement on social media, and the hero of the 2023 Bournemouth survival win, Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Talks remain ongoing with Michael Keane and Idrissa Gueye, who are officially now free agents but could yet agree extensions. The club is confident an agreement will be reached with Gueye. But even if both he and Keane agree to new deals, the extent of the job facing David Moyes and those around him is now clear.
The Everton squad lacks depth in almost every area as the club enters one of the most challenging rebuilding projects of the Premier League era.
That includes in the goalkeeping department, which Jordan Pickford’s deputies Joao Virginia and Asmir Begovic have both now left, and on the right of midfield, where there are no specialist options following the return of Jesper Lindstrom and Jack Harrison to their parent clubs after the conclusion of their loan spells on Merseyside.
The 14 players that remain include the first addition of the summer, Carlos Alcaraz, whose switch from Flamengo was made permanent last month. Everton could boost that number with young starlet Harrison Armstrong, who Moyes is expected to assess in pre-season after his successful loan spell at Derby County. Harry Tyrer, who has not made a first team appearance but has enjoyed positive loan spells at Chesterfield and Blackpool, could also be promoted to help boost the squad.
But just 11 of the 20-man squad that won at Newcastle United on the final day of last season are now contracted to Everton, with Gueye and Keane’s futures pending.
No longer contracted: Joao Virginia, Asmir Begovic, Ashley Young, Michael Keane*, Idrissa Gueye*, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Mason Holgate, Neal Maupay
*Talks over extensions ongoing
Loans that have ended: Orel Mangala, Jesper Lindstrom, Jack Harrison, Armando Broja
Remaining senior players (not including potential promotions of Harry Tyrer and Harrison Armstrong): Jordan Pickford, Nathan Patterson, Seamus Coleman, Jarrad Branthwaite, James Tarkowski, Jake O’Brien, Vitalii Mykolenko, Dwight McNeil, James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam, Carlos Alcaraz, Iliman Ndiaye, Youssef Chermiti, Beto