Lucasz Fabianski said he turned down the chance to move to Merseyside as David Moyes rebuilt his goalkeeping unit
David Moyes congratulates Lucasz Fabianski following the FA Cup Third Round match between Gillingham and West Ham United in January 2020. Photo by Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United FC via Getty Images
David Moyes congratulates Lucasz Fabianski following the FA Cup Third Round match between Gillingham and West Ham United in January 2020. Photo by Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United FC via Getty Images
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Lucasz Fabianski has claimed he had the opportunity to sign for Everton in the summer.
The goalkeeper was out of contract with West Ham United and heavily linked with a reunion with David Moyes, with whom he won the Europa Conference League with West Ham United in 2023.
His availability coincided with an overhaul of the Blues’ goalkeeping department as Joao Virginia and Asmir Begovic both left Finch Farm before the arrivals of Mark Travers and Tom King.
Fabianski, 40, said he had the opportunity to take what became Travers’ spot as Jordan Pickford’s deputy when his contract at the London Stadium expired.
In an interview with Polish title WP SportoweFakty (via Sport Witness), he reflected on his summer and said: “I had several offers, from Everton for a second goalkeeper, and there was an inquiry from Legia [Warsaw], and I had various conversations. However, my family and I decided we didn't want to relocate. I remember a conversation last season with my family and people at West Ham. I assumed I'd play one more season and then say goodbye. Last summer changed my thinking somewhat.”
Fabianski’s contract expired as Graham Potter led the Hammers through his first summer with the club, though the manager would only last until the end of September after a disastrous start to the season.
Re-signing Fabianski after the end of the summer transfer window was one of Potter’s final pieces of business and the Poland international was named on the bench in the Premier League defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and played in the EFL Trophy loss to MK Dons before suffering a back injury that has since kept him out.
Everton started last summer looking to build a new team to work around Pickford, with the departures of both Begovic and Virginia announced before the end-of-season win at Newcastle United. The Blues ultimately signed Travers from Bournemouth before adding Wales international King from Wolverhampton Wanderers near the end of the window.