Comments former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher made back in 2023 about Everton have resurfaced following the Toffees' bizarre transfer deadline day activity
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher
Jamie Carragher has previously called Everton "the worst-run club in the country"(Image: Getty)
Comments made by Jamie Carragher in 2023 regarding Everton's ownership have resurfaced after the Toffees' disastrous deadline-day negotiations saw them miss out on Monaco forward Folarin Balogun.
While Liverpool finally unveiled French winger Bradley Barcola following protracted negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain this summer, Everton's deadline day activity saw them involved in several deals. The Toffees landed Jack Grealish and Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Manchester City and Lyon, with the former returning to Everton after spending last season there on loan.
They also saw forward Iliman Ndiaye and Beto leave for Man City and Fiorentina, respectively, meaning they were in the market for another striker on deadline day, which they thought they had secured in the form of Monaco's Folarin Balogun.
The 25-year-old looked set to join Everton for a fee of around $47.5m (£35m), which could have risen to $54m (£40m) with add-ons.
However, a snag during Balogun's medical prompted the two sides to renegotiate terms, with it also seeing the Toffees try to land Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee and Aston Villa's Tammy Abraham. While Zirkzee was reportedly happy to sign for Everton, Man United opted to retain the Dutch striker.
Meanwhile, Abraham did not want to leave Villa Park.
The deal looked to be off after the medical issue, only for it to then be resurrected after the Toffees submitted a deal sheet with the Premier League, giving them an extra two hours to complete the signing of Balogun after the 23:00 BST deadline.
However, in a stunning turn of events, the deal fell through, with it later emerging that it was due to Balogun's change of heart.
The deal falling through leaves Everton with one senior striker in the form of Theirno Barry until they can add reinforcements in January. They also look weak at right-back, having brought in Maitland-Niles, but let go of Nathan Patterson, who joined Torino, leaving them with one senior out-and-out full-back at that spot.
Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 16 match between USA and Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 6, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.
Balogun had been set to sign for Everton, only for him to have a change of heart on deadline day
With fans furious at the disastrous handling of deadline day, comments Carragher made back in 2023 about how Everton is run have resurfaced.
Back then, the former Liverpool defender, a boyhood Everton fan, described the Toffees' ownership under Farhad Moshiri as "the worst-run club in the country."
While Moshiri sold his shares to The Friedkin Group in 2024, Carragher's comments still ring true despite the new ownership. Speaking back in 2023, Carragher launched a blistering attack on Everton's then-owner, Moshiri.
"Nobody knows a football club better than their own supporters," Carragher said.
"There were no banners against Frank Lampard, they were against Farhad Moshiri and the board. I have said Everton are the worst-run club in the country. That wasn't a flippant remark as an ex-Liverpool player, I'm saying it as an ex-Everton fan. When I made that comment, Everton got in touch with me and I admired it, being on the front foot to defend your club. But I didn't think I was wrong then and I'm not wrong now.
"Moshiri doesn't know what he's doing, but he's got a lot of money."