Everton summer transfer window 2025: Top targets, budget, most likely signings and priority positions

After ending their tumultuous 2024-25 season in strong fashion, Everton have their sights set higher than the 13th-placed finish they managed last term as they prepare to relocate to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Club legend David Moyes returned to the Toffees hotseat after 13 years elsewhere, and steered the Blues away from the relegation zone with a near-instant impact as they waved goodbye to Goodison Park in familiar hands.

The Scotsman may have lost his first match back against Aston Villa, but he collected an impressive 31 points over the remainder of the season, ranking the club fifth in the division during that spell and just six points short of champions Liverpool in the same time frame.

Other than confirming the permanent signing of loanee Carlos Alcaraz during the initial window prior to the Club World Cup, Everton kept their powder dry, but they will have plenty of work to do when the market reopens in July.

Here, Sports Mole considers where the Toffees need to bolster the squad, and takes a look at which players could join this summer.

Budget

There is simply no excuse for Everton to not go out and spend this summer, after years of penny-pinching amid concerns with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and points deductions dating back to their woeful recruitment in the late 2010s.

With new owners who appear to be committed to the club, the seasons under PSR scrutiny having now passed, and over £100m entering the coffers thanks to Premier League revenue, Everton fans will want to see substantial spending to bolster their threadbare squad, especially with many leaving on free transfers.

As is customary with Everton though, they are being patient - perhaps too patient - in getting their business done, with no concrete moves for any players made in the brief start to the transfer window.

However, Moyes has explicitly stated his desire for new arrivals, saying: "We know we are going to have bring in some new players, that's obvious", after picking up his OBE from Windsor Castle.

Priority Positions

Everton's priorities may have shifted from the backline to the forward line given Jarrad Branthwaite has signed a new long-term deal to stay at the club, so perhaps much of the team's transfer activity will rest on the future of striker Beto.

Elsewhere in the backline, Jake O'Brien was arguably Everton's best performer after Moyes arrived, spending most of his time out-of-position as a right full-back.

That being said, with Ashley Young leaving and Nathan Patterson not quite Premier League level, a natural right-back is high on the list of priorities for Everton this summer, even though veteran defender Seamus Coleman put pen to paper on a new contract. 

On the opposite flank, Vitalii Mykolenko remains the only first-team left-back at the club, and a deputy is sorely needed on that side too, with no replacement being bought for Ben Godfrey a year ago.

Judging the squad as it is now, central midfield is the area in need of most attention, because with Abdoulaye Doucoure leaving, and Idrissa Gueye entering his late-30s, urgent additions are required.

James Garner's viability as a regular starter has also been questioned by some supporters, and behind him there is not much depth, with youngsters Tim Iroegbunam and Harrison Armstrong perhaps best suited to loan moves away from the club next season.

Carlos Alcaraz's loan move from Flamengo has been made permanent, so he should be a regular starter next season as a right-winger, and given that Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom will not return after their loan moves, Moyes is also desperately short on options out wide, even though Dwight McNeil showed he is capable of filling in there when required.

A new number nine remains at the top Everton's wishlist, but Beto certainly paid back the faith shown in him from Moyes, reaching double figures for goals despite only playing half of the season.

It is time for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to move on after another injury-hit and misfiring season, with patience wearing thin for the striker from large portions of the fanbase, which has also spilled out into off-field matters, and all signs are seemingly pointing towards an exit.

Armando Broja will also be returning to Chelsea after a failed loan spell, so another striker is certainly necessary in order to compete for a start with Beto next season, especially as Calvert-Lewin has departed.

Top Targets

It has been relatively quiet in terms of concrete rumours for Everton over the past few months, but after missing out on Liam Delap, they are said to be hopeful of signing Villarreal striker Thierno Barry, who has a€40m release clause.

In regards to midfield targets, there has been speculation about a possible link-up between Moyes and Tomas Soucek could be on the cards after the success they enjoyed at West Ham together.

Sheffield United's playoff defeat means Gustavo Hamer could depart, and Everton have been listed as one club interested in him, while the Toffees are also believed to be keeping tabs on Matt O'Riley, although he is attracting attention from Serie A.

Should Soucek arrive, fellow Czech West Ham team mate Vladimir Coufal could join him when his contract in East London expires at the end of the month, given Everton's gaping hole at right-back, while want-away Kyle Walker is another name that has been linked.

The England international had reportedly agreed to join Everton, although it has been claimed by some that the Toffees have turned their attention elsewhere.

A surprising but exciting move could see Everton go for Liverpool winger Ben Doak to rectify their right-wing issue, but while the young Scot enjoyed a very productive campaign on loan at Middlesbrough last season, a deal could be made trickier for the Toffees given the rivalry with his parent club.

Another deal that would raise a few eyebrows would be the return of John Stones to the club, which would be quite a peculiar move for a club that has been stung by signing highly-paid, injury-prone players in recent years, and should it backfire, it would likely do the club no favours financially.

The same can be said about a potential move for Jack Grealish, but the belief is that the former Aston Villa winger is keen to play for a club competing in European competition next season, ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Instead of chasing out-of-form, highly-paid players discarded by clubs near the top, most Everton fans would like to see more creativity from their scouting team, such as finding gems like Alcaraz, O'Brien and Iliman Ndiaye, who all arrived for fees under £20m, but slotted in excellently to life at the club.

Written by
Andrew Delaney