Everton are bracing for a hectic summer transfer window as they aim to transform their squad for their first season at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium. With just 14 senior players currently on their books, manager David Moyes, who returned to the club in January 2025, is spearheading a major overhaul to ensure the Toffees remain competitive in the 2025-26 Premier League season. Having defied relegation fears last term, finishing comfortably safe, Everton are now focused on building a robust squad, with talks underway for Fulham’s Kenny Tete and plans for up to ten signings, as reported by The i.
When David Moyes rejoined Everton in January 2025, the club faced a precarious battle to avoid relegation, compounded by a thin squad and Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) constraints. Moyes’ leadership secured their Premier League status, with key contributions from players like Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who scored 8 goals in 35 appearances last season. However, departures—such as Amadou Onana (£50m to Aston Villa) and Ben Godfrey (£10m to Atalanta)—have left Everton with just 14 senior players, including injury-prone stars like Nathan Patterson and Youssef Chermiti (Web:9). Football Insider notes that this shortage has made recruitment a priority, with Moyes targeting reinforcements across all positions to prepare for a challenging opener against Tottenham on August 9, 2025 .
Everton have opened negotiations to sign Fulham right-back Kenny Tete, whose contract expires on June 30, 2025. The 29-year-old Dutch international, who made 25 Premier League appearances for Fulham in 2024-25, offers experience and versatility, having played 110 top-flight games since joining from Lyon in 2020. Tete’s potential free transfer aligns with Everton’s strategy to target cost-effective signings, with The i reporting that the club will maximize their loan allocations (up to two domestic and four international loans) and pursue free agents to address squad depth. An X post from @EvertonNewsFeedon June 25, 2025, confirmed the Tete talks, stating, “Kenny Tete could be Everton’s first summer signing”.
Beyond Tete, Everton are exploring a range of targets. The Liverpool Echo links them to Leicester City’s Conor Coady, a former Everton loanee, for £7.5m, and Napoli’s Jesper Lindstrom on loan. Free agents like Wilfred Ndidi, whose Leicester contract also expires in June 2025, and former Tottenham winger Bryan Gil are under consideration, per The Sun. The club’s phone is reportedly “red-hot” with agents offering players, reflecting Moyes’ proactive approach to recruitment under The Friedkin Group’s ownership, which has injected fresh funds
Everton fans are buzzing with anticipation but cautious after a quiet start to the window. The @EvertonNewsFeedX post sparked optimism, with one fan commenting, “Tete’s a great start, but we need more firepower!”. Another X post from @ToffeeTalkon June 26, 2025, urged, “Moyes needs to sign a striker and midfielder ASAP”. The Liverpool Echo notes fan excitement for the Hill Dickinson Stadium move but concern over the squad’s thinness, with pundit Jamie Carragher warning on Sky Sports (June 24, 2025) that “Everton must act fast or risk a slow start”. The call for ten signings has raised expectations, but fans remain wary of missing out on key targets like Zirkzee, who is also linked with AC Milan.
A successful transfer window could transform Everton into a competitive force at their new stadium, with Tete and potential signings like Coady and Ndidi adding experience. A robust squad is essential for a tough opening schedule against Tottenham, Leicester, and Arsenal. Failure to secure key targets, however, could leave Moyes reliant on youth like Chermiti, risking a mid-table struggle. The focus on loans and free agents reflects financial prudence, but fans will demand at least one marquee signing to signal ambition.
