Everton came close to signing defender Sacha Boey from Bayern Munich before ultimately pivoting to secure Ainsley Maitland-Niles on deadline day, according to reports in Germany. As first reported by Bild's Christian Falk, the Premier League side held advanced discussions for the 25-year-old full-back before completing a alternative £3 million deal with Lyon for Maitland-Niles.
How the Sacha Boey negotiations unfolded
According to reporting from Bild, Everton were in active talks to recruit Boey to Goodison Park during the final hours of the transfer window. The French defender has found regular playing time limited in Munich, leading to discussions over a late move. Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund addressed the speculation, stating that "the probability is now greater that he'll stay here," before adding, "when all transfer windows are closed and he's still here, then he'll remain a player in our squad."
The clubs ultimately failed to find an agreement, leaving Boey in Germany while Everton quickly shifted their focus to alternative targets in the final hours of the window.
Everton's search for defensive reinforcement
The late scramble came as Everton urgently sought a right-back to fill the void left by Seamus Coleman, who departed the club following a historic 17-year spell. Goodison Park officials had previously agreed a £9 million fee with Fulham for Kenny Tete, but that pursuit collapsed late in the window, prompting the late enquiry for Boey.
With both options falling through, Everton finalized a £3 million deal with Olympique Lyonnais to sign 29-year-old Maitland-Niles on a three-year contract. Maitland-Niles arrived on Merseyside with extensive experience, having registered 22 goal contributions in 119 appearances during his three seasons in France. While the Boey deal represented a high-profile option, the acquisition of Maitland-Niles provided a cost-effective solution to the club's defensive vacancy.
