Everton's summer has been one of bold investment.
After losing several senior players, including Ashley Young, Abdoulaye Doucoure, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the club moved swiftly in the market.
Thierno Barry arrived from Villarreal, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea, Tyler Dibling from Southampton, and, most eye-catchingly, Jack Grealish from Manchester City.
The start to the season has been encouraging. Everton lost their opening fixture 1-0 away at a raucous Elland Road but responded with a 2-0 home win over Brighton.
That momentum carried into a thrilling 3-2 victory at Molineux, giving supporters cautious optimism. Yet amid this excitement, Everton’s left-back situation remains one of the more pressing concerns.
For years, the position was locked down by club legend Leighton Baines, whose attacking instincts, set-piece expertise, and sheer consistency made him a fan favourite and one of the best full-backs in Premier League history.
leighton-baines-everton
Baines played 420 games for the Toffees, scoring 39 goals and assisting 64 more, becoming the first defender to reach 50 Premier League assists.
Now an assistant coach under David Moyes, Baines still casts a long shadow over the role he perfected.
Everton’s recent struggles in the position, however, have made his legacy all the more glaring.
Everton's issues at Left-Back
Everton’s problems at left-back were laid bare on opening day when James Garner, a natural midfielder, was forced to fill in against Leeds.
He performed admirably, even scoring against Brighton in the following game when deployed there again, but his inclusion underscored the lack of natural options.
Everton midfielder James Garner
Everton midfielder James Garner
Vitaliy Mykolenko remains the first-choice left-back, but his availability is a constant question mark.
Since joining Everton, the Ukrainian has missed 23 matches through injury, disrupting any rhythm in the back line.
His return for the full 90 minutes against Wolves was a welcome sight, but the recurring fitness issues mean the club cannot rely on him as a season-long solution.
Mykolenko
The uncertainty at left-back has been a consistent issue since Baines retired, and it is little surprise Everton turned to the transfer market in search of an answer.
Their £8m move for one of Europe’s most promising young full-backs could prove decisive in addressing this long-standing problem.
Adam Aznou could be the next Baines
Everton’s decision to sign Adam Aznou from Bayern Munich was not just a short-term fix but a long-term investment in a player who has the potential to redefine their left side.
At 19, the Moroccan international has already built a reputation as one of the brightest defensive talents in Europe.
Adam-Aznou-Bayern-Munich
A product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, he moved to Bayern in 2022, featuring in both the Champions League and Club World Cup, albeit for just 29 minutes combined.
The second half of last season saw him gain valuable senior experience on loan at Real Valladolid.
Despite the club finishing bottom of La Liga, Aznou shone individually, ranking second for dribbles completed among defenders with at least 500 minutes played, as per BBC Sport
adam-aznou
Bayern Munich's Adam Azou on loan at Real Valladolid.
Bayern board member Max Eberl openly admitted regret at losing him, underlining just how highly rated he remains in Germany.
Analyst Ben Mattinson has already described Aznou as having “huge potential,” a statement that captures the excitement surrounding the teenager’s arrival. Mattinson has also tipped him to be the heir to Baines under Moyes.
His statistical profile backs that up.
Adam Aznou - 2024/25
Matches Played
Minutes
Progressive Carries
Progressive Passes
Tackles
Blocks
Source: FBref
The full-back sits in the 98th percentile for successful take-ons per 90 (1.91), the 91st percentile for tackles per 90 (2.82), and the 99th percentile for blocks per 90 (2.51).
These numbers illustrate not only his willingness to carry the ball forward but also his capacity to defend aggressively and positionally.
Though Everton supporters will need to be patient - he has yet to make a matchday squad on Merseyside - the club views him as a player capable of becoming their next Baines: dependable at the back, adventurous going forward, and a fan favourite in waiting.
Crucially, his development could be accelerated by the calibre of teammates around him, particularly Everton’s marquee signing of the summer - Grealish.
The England international arrived from Manchester City after Thomas Tuchel warned him that he needs regular minutes to secure his place at the World Cup.
He has begun the season brilliantly, registering four assists in three games, and looks every bit the creative force Everton needed on the left flank.
Grealish
His ability to drift inside, carry the ball at speed, and thread through passes makes him the perfect partner for an overlapping full-back.
If Aznou can integrate into the side, his overlapping runs and willingness to push high up the pitch could dovetail perfectly with Grealish’s inside-left positioning.
Jack-Grealish-assists-stats
For now, Aznou remains very much in the pipeline.
He will need time, patience, and careful integration, but the tools are all there for him to succeed.