Denis Stracqualursi (2011-12)
- Position: Striker
- Details: The Argentine forward joined Everton on loan from Tigre for the 2011-12 season, arriving with a reputation as a prolific goal-scorer in South America. However, Stracqualursi struggled to adapt to the Premier League’s physicality, scoring just one goal in 28 appearances, mostly as a substitute. His work rate endeared him to some fans, but his lack of impact led to his return to Tigre. His brief tenure, overshadowed by more prominent strikers like Tim Cahill, is rarely recalled today.
Jo (2009, Loan)
- Position: Striker
- Details: Brazilian striker Jo arrived on loan from Manchester City in January 2009, seeking to revive his career after a disappointing spell at City. He made an immediate impact, scoring twice on his debut against Bolton, but his form faded, ending with five goals in 12 Premier League games. A second loan in 2009-10 was less successful, with no goals in 15 appearances. Jo’s flashes of brilliance are often forgotten due to his inconsistency and Everton’s more memorable forwards of that era, like Louis Saha.
Magaye Gueye (2010-14)
- Position: Winger/Forward
- Details: Signed from Strasbourg for £1m in 2010, the French youth international was touted as a promising talent under David Moyes. However, Gueye struggled to break into the first team, making just 39 appearances (mostly as a substitute) and scoring two goals over four years. His lack of consistency and eventual move to Millwall in 2014 have left him as a footnote in Everton’s history, with fans more likely to remember contemporaries like Steven Pienaar.
Shkodran Mustafi (2009-12)
- Position: Defender
- Details: Before becoming a World Cup winner with Germany and a Premier League regular with Arsenal, Mustafi was a teenage prospect in Everton’s academy. Signed from Hamburg in 2009, he never made a senior appearance for the Toffees, spending his time in the youth setup before leaving for Sampdoria in 2012. His subsequent success elsewhere makes his Everton stint a curious, often-overlooked chapter, as fans associate him more with his later career.
Aiden McGeady (2014-17)
- Position: Winger
- Details: The Irish international joined Everton from Spartak Moscow in January 2014 for £3m, bringing flair and experience. However, McGeady struggled for regular minutes, managing one goal and six assists in 43 appearances across three years, often relegated to the bench or loans to Sheffield Wednesday and Preston North End. His move to Sunderland in 2017 marked the end of a forgettable spell, with his contributions overshadowed by wingers like Kevin Mirallas and Ross Barkley.
