The first Everton players, including new signings Merlin Rohl, Tyrique George and Hayden Hackney, will undergo testing at Finch Farm from today as pre-season begins
David Moyes, manager of Everton, looks on during warm ups prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United and Everton at London Stadium. Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
David Moyes, manager of Everton, looks on during warm ups prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United and Everton at London Stadium. Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
View Image
Everton’s players will begin the return to the club’s training ground today.
The first senior players are expected at Finch Farm to undergo testing following their summer break.
That will kickstart the long countdown to Everton’s season opener on Saturday, August 22 when they play Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Almost seven weeks on from the defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of last season, work can now begin to build towards a new campaign in which the Blues will seek to make progress.
A disappointing end saw the 2025-26 campaign conclude with six winless games, a run that cost the club a place in Europe and cast a shadow over the start of the summer.
Work to improve has been ongoing even while the players have been away, with three signings secured for David Moyes.
Two of them are familiar faces. No farewells were needed for Merlin Rohl after the Blues' survival ensured his loan move from Freiburg was made permanent. He has now joined on a three-year deal.
Tyrique George was a stunning Antonin Kinsky save away from an equaliser at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and his loan move from Chelsea has been followed up with a permanent transfer that was signed off this week.
Hayden Hackney has also arrived from Middlesbrough to bolster Moyes’ midfield.
More signings are expected, with a new right-back the highest priority, while outgoings are also likely.
Everton’s players will start their pre-season with a friendly at Dundee FC on July 18. Their schedule will then take them to Bolton Wanderers, Stoke City, Hamburg and VfB Stuttgart before a game against Newcastle United at Murrayfield in Edinburgh and a home clash with Lille.