Everton striker crisis deepens as £40m Balogun transfer collapses
The late collapse of a £40m deal for Folarin Balogun leaves David Moyes with a single recognised striker, compounding a chaotic transfer window that saw major player sales but failed reinvestment in key attacking roles.
Everton’s pursuit of United States international Folarin Balogun collapsed at the final moment of the transfer deadline day. The 25-year-old striker reportedly withdrew from the move despite the club submitting a deal sheet after renegotiating terms with Monaco to include a lower upfront fee and higher add-ons.
This failure leaves manager David Moyes with only Thierno Barry as a recognised striker for the first half of the season. The collapse underscores severe operational vulnerabilities within the club’s hierarchy, which had already proceeded to sell existing attacking assets before securing replacements.
Everton generated significant liquidity during the window, selling Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City for £60m plus £5m in add-ons. Additional funds were raised through the £15.5m sale of Beto to Fiorentina, an initial £15m transfer of Tim Iroegbunam to Hull, and an undisclosed fee for Nathan Patterson’s move to Torino.
Attempts to reinvest these funds into proven forwards were systematically rebuffed. The club’s enquiries for loan deals involving Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee and Aston Villa’s Tammy Abraham were both rejected, leaving the attacking line critically depleted.
Recruitment difficulties also plagued the defensive end of the pitch. A £9m agreement for Fulham’s Kenny Tete fell through after Fulham failed to secure their own replacement, Andrei Ratiu, from Rayo Vallecano.
Everton eventually addressed the right-back position by signing Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Lyon. The 29-year-old former Arsenal player agreed to a three-year contract for a fee of approximately £4.2m.
In a rare piece of completed business, Jack Grealish has returned to Everton on a season-long loan from Manchester City. The 30-year-old previously enjoyed a productive spell at the club during the 2025-26 campaign before a fractured foot ended his season in February.
With his contract at Manchester City expiring next summer, Grealish is eligible to make his second debut for the club against Manchester United on Sunday. He emphasized his strong connection to the team, stating, "I think I’m at my best at everything in life, not just football, when I feel loved."
The midfielder noted that he had watched all of the team’s pre-season and competitive matches while recovering from his injury. "Now I feel ready to go," he concluded, reflecting on the support he receives from the fans.
