A big part of Everton's second-half revival at Anfield, causing plenty of problems for Liverpool defenders and assisting Idrissa Gana Gueye's goal.placeholder image
A big part of Everton's second-half revival at Anfield, causing plenty of problems for Liverpool defenders and assisting Idrissa Gana Gueye's goal. | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Liverpool have been linked with a move for Iliman Ndiaye, but who was the last player to make the switch from Everton?
It’s been a while since a player crossed the Merseyside divide by making the jump from Everton to Liverpool or vice versa, however, the January transfer window could see an interesting move.
The Toffees’ Iliman Ndiaye has been linked with a move to Anfield, which would be a first since January 2002 and only the fifth player to make the switch from Everton to Liverpool. Rarely has it been the best player who has been cherry picked, however, losing Nick Barmby in the late 1990’s was a blow with money tight and the Reds looking to challenge at the top of the Premier League.
Who was the last player to join Liverpool from Everton?
Walter Smith was the Everton boss who signed off on Portugal international Abel Xavier signing for Liverpool for £800,000 as his contract ticked down after being offered £20,000 per week to stay. That he was on a reported £25,000 a week at Anfield indicates where his loyalties lay. Smith, chose to cash in instead of losing a player they paid £1.5m for free.
"He turned down our contract, and we faced the situation of knowing he would move for nothing in the summer and he had to go somewhere now,” Smith told BBC Sport.
"Going to Liverpool is his decision, and to get £800,000 for a player who has just three playing months left on his contract is a good deal for us. Abel was in charge of his own destiny and it's his choice and we all have to get on with it."
The late Smith was a well-respected, statesman like figure in the game and he was never one for saying anything other than what was the truth. Everton would have known that they would have to spend money to replace Xavier if he left for nothing in the summer, whilst also accepting that he was far from irreplaceable.
Xavier didn’t want to join Liverpool
It made sense for Everton to sell given the player's contract situation plus the fact that he had only played 49 games in nearly three seasons, Xavier’s version of events, however, was slightly different.
“I wanted to stay at Everton,” Xavier said. “I was playing, was loved by the people and attached to the cause. I wanted to renew my contract but unfortunately they said to me they weren’t able to extend it because of the economic problems they faced.
“I said to the board, I want to show my appreciation and let me go in January and allow Everton to get some money for me because if I leave in the summer it’s as a free agent. I know the impact these kind of moves can have but I believe I did it in the right way. I felt privileged to have played for Everton and both appreciated and respected their fans. I gave them the chance to extend my contract because I wanted to stay but when they said that was not possible, I just had to find a solution.”
“In the end, Everton might not have been expecting that I’d move across the park but it all happened so fast and for Liverpool it was the chance to get an international player, almost for free. There had been the challenges both on and off the field at Everton but in the space of 15 days I was back playing Champions League football.”
There might, one day, be a time when players are honest enough to say that they moved because they wanted more money and a chance to play in the Champions League. Xavier always seemed like an opportunistic signing and left the following season to join Galatasaray on loan before leaving for good after just 18-months at the club.
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