Scotland v Ivory Coast - International Friendly
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 31: David Moyes head coach of Everton during an international friendly match between Scotland and Ivory Coast at Hill Dickinson Stadium on March 31, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
It wasn’t Leeds United that were in turmoil on deadline day for once, it was Everton that had their fans in meltdown.
United’s deadline day shenanigans have been the source of one of football’s most well-known memes. “Don’t get to bed just yet” is a term synonymous with the final day of the transfer window.
However, Leeds were left celebrating a successful end of the window, while direct rivals Everton had a chaotic and disastrous Tuesday.
Leeds United watch on as rivals Everton struggle through catastrophic deadline day
Continuity and growth have been the two core themes of Leeds’ investment. Outside of Pascal Struijk, the core has remained intact and has been strengthened upon with seven very strong signings.
Meanwhile, the same can’t be said for the blue half of Merseyside.
Having made the shrewd addition of Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough, the Toffees made Merlin Rohl and Tyrique George’s initial loans into permanent deals. Brennan Johnson arrived in a swap deal with Crystal Palace for Dwight McNeil. Meanwhile, Christian Norgaard added some experience to the midfield too from Arsenal.
Beyond that, it’s been a tough watch from the outside.
Iliman Ndiaye has signed for Manchester City on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee.
The Club thanks Iliman for his contributions to Everton across the past two years and wishes him success for the future.
— Everton (@Everton) September 1, 2026
Deadline day saw Everton secure two new signings in versatile full-back Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Man City returnee Jack Grealish.
However, Everton also sanctioned exits for Nathan Patterson, Beto, Tim Iroegbunam, and most devastatingly of all, Iliman Ndiaye to Man City.
Ex-Leeds United CEO Angus Kinnear takes huge Everton onslaught after deadline day
A deadline day PR nightmare for Everton has been centred around CEO Angus Kinnear, someone who had to deal with his fair share of stick at Leeds.
Annually, Kinnear would admirably front up to the public with appearances on The Square Ball. In which, he’d dissect the multitude of summer-related questions put to him by Dan Moylan and co. More often than not, the responses that left a lasting memory were centred around the bad news. Of which, we’ve had plenty of.
Kinnear is now in the same CEO position at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. But, he’s perhaps burdened with more responsibility of footballing matters than his time at Elland Road.
So, when Everton are left up the proverbial creek without a paddle, he’s the one to blame. And, if you take even the slightest glance at how Everton fans are reacting on social media, it is bleak.
Most notably on deadline day, after selling Beto and Ndiaye, Everton failed to get a deal secured for Monaco’s Folarin Balogun. The USMNT forward turned his back on signing a contract at the last minute. It leaves David Moyes with one senior striker for the season.
🗣️"I signed the contract. Everton signed the contract. At the last moment, the player decided not to sign. And basically, Balogun's allegation is that I'm not feeling well because of the way the club treated me. I'm not feeling well because Everton's medical department raised… pic.twitter.com/3gBlfnYHm1
— 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 (@EvertonNewsFeed) September 2, 2026
The meltdown at Everton is certainly brutal. But, if you’re a schadenfruede enjoyer, or just pleased to see that Leeds’ reinforcements are coming alongside others getting weaker, Kinnear taking the brunt of Everton’s rage is refreshing, as opposed to taking the brunt of our rage.
As fellow sufferers of bad ownership, it’s hard not to feel some level of sympathy for Evertonians.
However, to quote Richard Hammond: that could’ve happened to us, but it didn’t!