Everton closed the 2026 summer transfer window in disarray, concluding the period with a squad of just 18 senior outfield players and a solitary recognised striker, Thierno Barry. The club offloaded Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City for £65 million and sold Beto to Fiorentina, but failed to replace the departing duo after the £40 million move for AS Monaco’s Folarin Balogun collapsed late on deadline day. Amidst the turmoil, the Friedkin Group blocked the late sale of academy graduate Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest, while Everton secured Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Lyon for approximately £4.2 million and recruited Jack Grealish on a season-long loan from Manchester City.
The Tactical and Squad Consequences
The collapse of the Balogun transfer was the final blow to manager David Moyes’ planning. As first reported by The Guardian, the deal fell apart following failed medical assessments and the player’s subsequent decision to remain at Monaco. AS Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro, speaking on the situation, stated: "I signed the contract, Everton signed the contract, at the last moment the player decided not to sign. I'm not feeling well by the way the club treated me, the way the medical team brought doubts about my future or my health." For Moyes, the impact is severe. With Beto and Ndiaye gone, the tactical burden on Thierno Barry is disproportionate. The recruitment of Grealish provides technical quality in wide areas, and Maitland-Niles offers utility across the midfield and defence, but neither resolves the central attacking void. The squad is now alarmingly fragile, and any further injuries to core personnel will stretch the manager’s resources to breaking point.
Ownership Strategy and Fan Sentiment
The volatility surrounding the ownership’s strategy has triggered significant unrest among the supporter base. The Friedkin Group’s focus on long-term sustainability and adherence to Squad Cost Ratios has been interpreted by fans as prioritising fiscal compliance at the direct expense of on-pitch competitiveness. The tension reached a peak when the board was forced to block the sale of Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest following widespread protests. While this intervention prevented further anger, it highlighted a disconnect between the boardroom’s financial objectives and the necessity of retaining a viable first-team group. It is understood that Moyes is operating with an exceptionally limited pool of players, leading to speculation regarding the manager's long-term position. If the squad fails to produce early results, the friction between the ownership and the fanbase will likely intensify.
