January 2026 Transfer Window Recap – Everton mostly quiet

The transfer window is now shut, and football teams can now focus on getting on with what matters most, playing football again. Season-ling transfer rumours, chatter and activity came to a head yesterday on deadline day as a quiet window by Premier League standards came to a close.

Everton had gone into the window needing capable fullbacks and some creative sparks in the forward areas, and leave the window.. still needing the same things. With Jack Grealish going down injured, possibly for the rest of the season, the Blues were going to be a man short in the winger corps.

The addition of Tyrique George on loan from Chelsea will go a long way to alleviate that, but the player brings a different skillset to David Moyes’s squad than Grealish does. George, who will turn 20 tomorrow, is a versatile forward who can play across the front line, taking advantage of the half-spaces and is a good finisher as well.

There were other names briefly mentioned all over the pitch, but apart from a deadline day inquiry about impending Fulham free agent Harry Wilson, there were almost no other solid contacts.

With his contract running down, getting James Garner re-signed was a priority and the Toffees locked him up to a new and improved four-and-a-half year deal ensuring the key midfielder commits his future to the Toffees.

Young midfielder Harrison Armstrong was like a new signing, coming back from Preston North End where he was on loan for the first half of the season, and immediately looked like he was born to play at the Premier League level. His energy and composure both served as a timely reminder for the gaffer to trust more in the youth.

Speaking of getting players back, Evertonians finally got to see Jarrad Branthwaite for the first time this season in the second half of the away draw at Leeds United. Getting him back allowed Moyes to try something he had only done in his first spell at the club, which was line up four centrehalves in the defence against Brighton.

Given the small squad, it was always unlikely that any players would be leaving Finch Farm last month. There were offers for Adam Aznou [Olympique Marseille] and Nathan Patterson [Wolves, Genoa], but both were quickly repelled given the Blues’s paucity in the fullback areas.

A late offer for Tim Iroegbunam [Lazio] was also not sanctioned with the Blues not having enough time to bring in a replacement. There had been rumours that Beto had suitors in Italy, but it was all for nothing as Everton were not going to bring in another striker.

And then the drama really started, late on deadline day, when news broke that Crystal Palace were interested in Dwight McNeil. The Eagles were willing to pay and transfer the player outright for about £20m, which was what the Blues paid for him back in summer 2022. A deal sheet had to be submitted to complete the paperwork as McNeill had finished his medical before the window shut at 7pm last night.

It soon became clear that Palace were using McNeil as a delaying tactic as they attempted to offload Jean-Philippe Mateta whose move to AC Milan fell through after a knee ailment showed up in the medical. The London-side changed their original bid to a loan deal with a mandatory buy clause next summer. And eventually, just as the minutes were ticking out getting to 9pm, Palace backed out of the deal completely leaving the player hanging but still a Toffee for now.

Verdict

This one is pretty simple – not good enough.

In a Premier League season rife with parity, Everton continue to hover right below the European berths, in contention but at the same time not quite there. Beefing up the squad, especially at fullback and the goalscoring positions, would have definitely benefited the next half of the season. It’s not like players were unavailable either, with a number of players making the switch to England for different teams.

Moyes will have to work out how to get over the abject performances the Toffees have been putting in at their new home at Hill Dickinson Stadium. If the home form can match the recent away performance, then it’s pretty certain the Blues will be in Europe next season.

CONFIRMED EVERTON JANUARY TRANSFERS

Outgoing

Transferred – Harry Tyrer (Cardiff City – League One)

Loaned – Roman Dixon (Stockport County – League One), Will Tamen (Tranmere Rovers – League Two), George Morgan (AS Cannes – Championnat National 2), Martin Sherif (Port Vale – League Two), Eli Campbell (Port Vale – League Two), Jack Patterson (LKS Lodz – Poland)

Incoming

Transferred – 

Loaned – Tyrique George (Chelsea)