How will the summer shape Everton's season?
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 29: Everton manager David Moyes (right) win discussion with his team assistant Manager Billy McKinlay (left) and Billy McKinlay (centre) during the Premier League 2026/27 match between AFC Bournemouth and Everton at Vitality Stadium on August 29, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by David Horton - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Everton ended play before the March international break in 8th position after putting three past Chelsea at the Hill Dickinson Stadium without reply. European aspirations were within reach.
But the final furlong of the campaign witnessed the Toffees suffer a seven-game winless streak.
They conceded stoppage time strikes against Liverpool in a 2-1 defeat, West Ham in another loss by the same scoreline and Manchester City in a 3-3 draw. More dropped points came from a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace, and Sunderland scored three without reply in the second half of a 3-1 triumph over their hosts in Merseyside. David Moyes knew his men needed more this season.
·A bright start to the campaign
The campaign has begun brightly: a 2-0 win over Palace on the opening matchday was followed by a comfortable 4-0 victory over Preston North End in the Carabao Cup second round.
James Tarkowski then levelled during injury time to retain the unbeaten run as they drew 1-1 against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. Seventh spot is theirs, but the mood is very different.
·A deadline day disaster
An upwardly mobile team typically has a sure supply of output. Beto banked nine Premier League strikes last season, finishing the year as the top scorer for the club, but he was allowed to return to Italy to sign for Serie A side Fiorentina for a fee of €18 million. A replacement was required.
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Chris Richards of Crystal Palace battles with Beto of Everton during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Everton and Crystal Palace FC at Hill Dickinson Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Chris Richards of Crystal Palace battles with Beto of Everton during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Everton and Crystal Palace FC at Hill Dickinson Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Everton turned towards France for a solution. Monaco had been deliberating over selling midfielder Lamine Camara to Chelsea, while Folarin Balogun was an alternative candidate for an outgoing transfer.
The 25-year-old was scheduled to travel to the blue half of Merseyside at 8am on Tuesday morning, but his departure was delayed and relevant documents were also sent tardily to the Toffees.
Everton had been considering a deal for Joshua Zirkzee, whose proposed loan to Fiorentina fell through, but the Manchester United forward remained at Old Trafford. A similar story transpired with Tammy Abraham, who is determined to make things work with his return to Aston Villa.
Eventually, Balogun arrived in England for a medical, but his displeasure at the conduct of the club compelled the attacker to have a change of heart. Everton were left with no one to come in for Beto.
Deadline day shenanigans also saw a late swoop for Ainsley Maitland-Niles as a cheap £3 million purchase at right back. But the bigger picture provides more reason for consternation.
Longer-term target Kenny Tete could not be pried away from Fulham, who have struggled to find a replacement for the Dutchman, so midfielder Merlin Rohl has been filling in as a fullback for the moment.
Topping it off was the bitter blow of an exit for Iliman Ndiaye. A close control technician capable of moments of magic, the French-born Senegal attacker is a maverick who has acclimatised to the gritty demands of the English game.
His £65 million move to Manchester City is well-deserved, but the arrival of Jack Grealish on loan for a second season shall only ease the pain so far for Everton.
·The squad remains stretched
It is not all bad for the Toffees, who have continued to pick up top talent from lower reaches of the English pyramid. Ndiaye arrived from Marseille, having excelled for Sheffield United on their way to promotion from the Championship in 2023, and the best is hopefully to come for Tyler Dibling.
This summer, Everton acquired Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough for a fee of £16.5 million.
Having worked with Michael Carrick for the best part of three seasons, he received guidance from one of the country's greatest midfielders in the 21st Century. Hackney himself is a talented tool who has added more defensive snap to his skillset as a passer and carrier from the middle of the park.
Less heralded had been Tyrique George, one of many prodigious talents from the Cobham factory. He accepted that a loan deal in the second half of last season was better for his career than trying to engineer a pathway at Chelsea, and a permanent deal for up to £24 million has been agreed. His sharp striking and dribbling impressed in preseason, and should give spectators something to smile about.
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BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 29: Tyrique George of Everton is challenged by Justin Kluivert of Bournemouth during the Premier League 2026/27 match between AFC Bournemouth and Everton at Vitality Stadium on August 29, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 29: Tyrique George of Everton is challenged by Justin Kluivert of Bournemouth during the Premier League 2026/27 match between AFC Bournemouth and Everton at Vitality Stadium on August 29, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
However, it is ultimately difficult to look beyond the small size of squad Moyes must work with.
Idrissa Gueye ended his four-season stint with the side, and Tim Iroegbunam has also transferred to Hull City. Christian Norgaard was purchased for £7 million from Arsenal, having barely featured for the Premier League champions, but he is out of action at the moment because of an injury.
Though Vitaliy Mykolenko has agreed a new contract with the club, Adam Aznou was allowed to go to Malaga on loan. The deal for Crystal Palace to take Jake O'Brien has fallen through, leaving the player 'disillusioned' with his circumstances as Rohl has replaced him in the starting eleven. As it stands, Everton have a single recognised left back and a single recognised right back in their squad.
Thierno Barry is the only recognised striker in the side, and Moyes will struggle to fill out the nine substitute slots available for a matchday squad with senior players. His pleas were not answered.
·A schism in the structure
It should also not be forgotten that the board backed down from offloading midfield academy product Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest. Fans voiced their displeasure at the rumours by singing the player's name on the weekend: clearly the fury of the fanbase is not just down to deadline day.
The club's Fan Forum articulated their feelings about the transfer window in a strong statement.
"The conclusion of this summer's transfer window leaves Everton supporters with serious questions about the club's planning, recruitment and decision-making.
"This is not about demanding that Everton spend recklessly. Supporters understand the financial restrictions the club operates under. We are not demanding marquee signings simply for the sake of it.
"We are demanding competence, preparation and accountability."
The Friedkin Group gave supporters belief that things could get better after Farhad Moshiri. The club has been resurgent, and there are new players in the dressing room that can make a difference on the field.
But deadline day displayed the chaos that continues to loom over the affairs of the Toffees, and it will take a lot more time and effort to reassure fans they are buying into a prosperous project.
Everton's Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson (L) vies with Arsenal's English midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles (R) during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on December 19, 2020. (Photo by Jon Super / POOL / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
Everton's Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson (L) vies with Arsenal's English midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles (R) during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on December 19, 2020. (Photo by Jon Super / POOL / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 29: James Tarkowski of Everton celebrates his late equalising goal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between AFC Bournemouth and Everton at Vitality Stadium on August 29, 2026 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 29: James Tarkowski of Everton celebrates his late equalising goal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between AFC Bournemouth and Everton at Vitality Stadium on August 29, 2026 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)