Everton's squad size has decreased from last season after a difficult summer transfer window.
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With seven signings made in the summer transfer window, what is Everton’s best XI heading into the remainder of the season?
It’s certainly not going to be the XI I was hoping for as we entered the final few days before the deadline, but David Moyes has now been left with minimal options.
Hayden Hackney, Brennan Johnson, Tyrique George, Merlin Rohl, Christian Norgaard, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, and Jack Grealish all signed on the dotted line for the 2026/2027 season and potentially beyond, with a number of outgoings overall making Everton’s squad smaller.
Ahead of the weekend, Moyes will have some big decisions to make in terms of team selection. His XI might not be Everton’s best XI due to injuries and new signings bedding in, but I’m going to go over what I think is their strongest side they could name if everyone is fit.
Goalkeeper
Obvious one, of course. Jordan Pickford. No explanation needed.
Right-back
Now this is incredibly difficult. During pre-season, I thought Rohl looked excellent in this position, but his defensive performances weren’t as strong in the opening two games of the campaign.
Despite what people are saying, I personally believe Maitland-Niles is a right-back. He’s played more games at right-back than any other position in his career, while he played there for the majority of last season at Lyon.
The issue is, he does have his defensive frailties, like Rohl, but again, he does have a lot more experience there.
I’m going to edge it Maitland-Niles. Is that controversial? Let me know.
Centre-backs
I think the standard answer is James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite, isn’t it? Even if I wanted to argue against that, it seems like there is little point.
I would like to see Jake O’Brien and Branthwaite given a run of games together at some point, though. Everton do need leaders on the pitch, and Tarkowski provides that, so I’m edging him in front ever so slightly at this stage.
Left-back
The only left-back at the club takes this one.
Central midfielders
Another difficult decision. James Garner is one of the first names on the team sheet, so he has to be in there. You’re then deciding between Hackney, Harrison Armstrong, and Christian Norgaard.
I do think Norgaard is probably the one getting the nod. Hackney offers us something different which I think will be valuable in games, in terms of his ability to progress the ball, but Norgaard has the defensive solidity that we need.
Armstrong is unlucky after a strong pre-season and opening two games, but I think he’ll get plenty of game time still.
Right-wing
Another fairly difficult one. Can George play on the right-hand side? Does Tyler Dibling get a chance? Is Johnson good enough to be a starter?
I think Dibling is behind George at the moment, and I do think it’s a shootout between the latter and Johnson. George is obviously more naturally a left-sided player, so I do think Johnson edges this one.
He offers us something different in attack. An in-behind outlet which could be incredibly useful. I’d ignore what he was at Palace, he was never able to play on the last line of defence like he should with us.
Attacking midfield
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Next.
Left wing
Jack Grealish, of course. I do have slight concerns about blocking George’s pathway, but I’m really hoping that Moyes gives him more opportunities this year. Maybe a bit of fluidity in attack, too.
We could see George or Johnson playing centrally at times and trying to hit teams in transition, maybe one of them in the 10, or as a striker. Let’s see, but it’s likely to be Grealish regularly on the left if we’re honest.
Striker
It’s a really difficult choice between Thierno Barry and… Thierno Barry.
Obviously it’s him, but genuinely, my prediction between now and January is that Michael Keane is brought on in place of him as a striker on at least three occasions.
So, there we have it:
Pickford; Maitland-Niles, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Norgaard, Garner; Johnson, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry.
On paper, not a bad starting XI. The squad depth is where the real issues lie.