The NSNO Everton Forums

Shogun wrote: ↑Tue May 26, 2026 8:36 am https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/729803 ... 8rlROyJCbm

Re-ranking all 189 Premier League transfers this season — from worst to best

---

179. Tom King, Wolves to Everton
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: Nominal

Contract length: Two years

First impressions: King of putting the cones out, right? Warmed the bench for two Carabao Cup games, but Everton are out of that competition now. Training standards: unknown.

Verdict: With Jordan Pickford playing every week, and even in the FA Cup too, the job of Everton’s third-choice goalkeeper is essentially a full-time morale-booster role.

---

166. Mark Travers, Bournemouth to Everton
Reported transfer fee: £4million

Contract length: Four years

First impressions: The 26-year-old isn’t going to usurp England’s No 1 Jordan Pickford. Standard No 2 goalkeeper stuff.

Verdict: Two Carabao Cup appearances formed the entirety of his on-pitch season, a 2-0 home win against Mansfield Town and a 2-0 defeat at Wolves. Had a great view of the new stadium, though.

---

162. Adam Aznou, Bayern to Everton
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £7.8m

Contract length: Four years

First impressions: Attack-minded, ball-carrying Moroccan teenage left-back. He’s only just turned 19, so is likely to be one for the future.

Verdict: Looked really promising from the bench against Sunderland in the FA Cup in January but then was not used again, with zero minutes in the league. Some good qualities, but not yet ready physically for English football.

---

144. Tyler Dibling, Southampton to Everton
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £40million (with add-ons)

Contract length: Four years

First impressions: A ball-carrying magician. Elegance personified in the way he saunters upfield and past defenders, although he is only 19 and his all-round game (including his end-product) needs a lot of work.

Verdict: That is a big fee for Everton and Dibling has barely featured, even when Jack Grealish was injured, and he fell behind Chelsea loanee Tyrique George in the pecking order. When manager David Moyes told him to “pull his finger out”, you knew it wasn’t going well.

---

115. Carlos Alcaraz, Flamengo to Everton
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £12.6million

Contract length: Two years

First impressions: Certainly did enough on loan at Everton in the second half of last season to suggest that £12.6million is a bargain fee for the 22-year-old Argentinian attacking midfielder.

Verdict: Had to wait for injuries and suspensions to get his opportunities, then didn’t really take them. Mainly used as an impact sub. There was a case for seeing more of him, but in general, not a season to remember.

---

103. Merlin Rohl, Freiburg to Everton
Transfer fee: Loan

Contract length: One year

First impressions: With a name like that, you’d surely have to be a dinky, creative, wizard-like winger, but Rohl is actually a 6ft 3in (192cm) central midfielder. Injuries would be a concern, but this is a beefing-up-the-squad signing.

Verdict: Injured at first but started to force his way in towards the end of the season, however him not playing much for months after being so good in the January win at Villa was a bit strange. Moyes perhaps struggled to fit him into the side. Everton’s £18million obligation to buy was triggered when they avoided relegation.

---

101. Tyrique George, Chelsea to Everton
Transfer fee: Loan

Contract length: End of the season

First impressions: The 19-year-old effectively replaces the injured Jack Grealish as a versatile forward option for Everton. Time to show what he can really do in the Premier League (which should be a lot).

Verdict: One start and 10 sub appearances. Didn’t force his way into the team but produced some bright cameos without ever really properly grabbing a game. A loan signing, so no real risk. More to come from him, but where next?

---

94. Jack Grealish, Manchester City to Everton
Transfer fee: Loan

Contract length: One year

First impressions: If Grealish, in a World Cup season, is given the freedom to express himself and be their main man, this has a good chance of being one of those ‘benefits everyone’ signings.

Verdict: Was top of our list in early October, but the initial burst of four assists before September that put him there subsided and his form had dropped off before a season-ending foot injury in January. He was missed by a club who had clearly taken to him, but his future is unclear.

---

63. Thierno Barry, Villarreal to Everton
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £27.5million

Contract length: Four years

First impressions: A colossus at 6ft 4in (195cm) who can hold the ball up and is mobile, strong and shows good movement. A bit of a risky one, as yes, he’s raw, and no, he may not score a load of goals just yet.

Verdict: Took until his 14th Premier League appearance to produce his first shot on target, against Bournemouth in December. After that, a much-improved run of eight goals in 22 games. Endured some really tough times (including some boos from his own supporters), work to do, but enough signs there that next year might be better.

---

16. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Chelsea to Everton
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £25million

Contract length: Five years

First impressions: Creates chances, is incessantly positive and one of the best passers in the league in the final third. Excellent.

Verdict: After an electric start, he reined in the bookings and added end-product, finishing with eight goals and four assists. The pick of the new-signings bunch for Everton, whose work ethic was always impressive. An average end to the campaign, along with the rest of their team.