Joe Thomas reflects on Everton's January transfer window, which ended dramatically with one deal going ahead and another falling through
Everton have signed Tyrique George from Chelsea on an initial loan deal
Everton have signed Tyrique George from Chelsea on an initial loan deal (Image: Everton FC)
View Image
Everton’s transfer window ended in drama as the club became embroiled in two moves that took until the final minutes of deadline day to reach a conclusion.
The Blues signed off on the arrival of Tyrique George on loan from Chelsea as David Moyes saw his attacking options bolstered - a crucial development after the devastating loss of star man Jack Grealish to injury midway through January.
But a move that would have taken Dwight McNeil to Crystal Palace on a loan deal that would have been made permanent for £20m in the summer collapsed at the death.
Everton’s belief is the issues that led to the move falling through arose from the Selhurst Park end of the deal.
Both moves extended into the final two hours of the window after the Blues and Palace submitted deal sheets to allow talks to continue beyond the 7pm soft deadline.
The flurry of activity represented an extraordinary finale to what had been a quiet window despite David Moyes’ hopes Everton would strengthen to boost his hopes of European qualification.
George, 19, spoke of sharing that ambition upon his arrival from Stamford Bridge. The terms of the deal mean the Blues will have the option to sign the left winger, an England Under-21s youth international team-mate of Tyler Dibling, on a permanent deal in the summer.
While Moyes welcomed the arrival of George, he is effectively a replacement for Grealish, the Manchester City loanee whose foot fracture is expected to render him unavailable for the rest of the campaign.
Everton will still have to pay their portion of his wages until the summer, however, at the cost of around £1m per month.
The Blues did consider other moves through a January of tentative approaches. The club threw its hat into the ring for Fenerbahce forward Youssef En-Nesyri but the pursuit always looked set to end in frustration and quickly hit the buffers.
There was interest in Tammy Abraham and Callum Wilson but Abraham joined Aston Villa from Besiktas and Wilson, who appeared set to leave West Ham United, saw his future altered by his late winner against Tottenham Hotspur.
The progress made by Thierno Barry through the opening weeks of 2026 reduced the need for another forward while there are hopes Beto’s stoppage-time equaliser against Brighton & Hove Albion will lead to an upturn in his form.
Everton spent the month looking for a right back but this became the latest transfer window in which they failed to solve their longstanding issue in that position. Interest in Brooke Norton-Cuffy of Genoa did not develop into a serious pursuit.
Instead Nathan Patterson will be left to compete with Seamus Coleman and Jake O’Brien if he is to earn the minutes needed to win a place in Scotland’s World Cup squad. Patterson was the subject of interest through the window but remained on Merseyside.
Tim Iroegbunam also remained with the squad after Everton rejected an approach from Lazio while Harrison Armstrong will also continue to be available to Moyes after the manager decided against allowing the midfield starlet to return to Preston North End on loan - a call that looked likely given he started the last five games before the window closed.
Everton were open to allowing teen left back Adam Aznou to leave on loan but he will remain with the club. The academy did secure senior football for a number of Blues youngsters, however. George Finney moved to Ayr United, Will Tamen to Tranmere Rovers, Roman Dixon to Stockport County, Eli Campbell and Martin Sherif to Port Vale, George Morgan to AS Cannes and Francis Okoronkwo to Doncaster Rovers.
Midfielder Jack Patterson moved to Polish side LKS Lodz on loan and the second tier club has an option to make that move permanent in the summer.