Everton’s pre-season has laid bare the full extent of the club’s ongoing crisis, with manager David Moyes left with only 15 senior players at his disposal during their training camp in St Andrews. The shortage highlights the urgent rebuild needed after several years of short-term thinking and financial mismanagement, primarily during Farhad Moshiri’s reign.
While steps are being taken behind the scenes to correct the club’s course, Moyes is left trying to construct a competitive Premier League squad with limited depth, minimal experience, and a long list of vacancies to fill.
Thin Squad Reflects Years of Poor Planning
Among the senior players currently available to Moyes are key figures like Jordan Pickford, Séamus Coleman, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, and Dwight McNeil. But injuries to key defenders such as Tarkowski and Branthwaite, as well as the lack of experienced back-ups, leave Everton severely under-resourced.
Young players Youssef Chermiti and Tim Iroegbunam, with just seven combined Premier League starts, are being pushed into first-team contention out of necessity. Meanwhile, only Harrison Armstrong, an 18-year-old academy midfielder, appears close to a first-team breakthrough. Everton’s once-proud academy has been starved of investment due to upper-management failures.
Alcaraz Signed, Barry Deal Close – But More Needed
So far, Carlos Alcaraz is the only permanent signing of the summer, brought in for a modest £12.6 million after impressing on loan from Flamengo. Talks are advancing for Villarreal’s Thierno Barry, a towering 6ft 5in striker and France U21 international. Everton are hopeful of concluding a £27.5 million deal soon.
Even if the Barry deal is finalized, Moyes has made it clear that the to-do list remains extensive. He’s requesting:
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Depth at right-back
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More quality wide players
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Competition in central midfield
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A solid backup for Pickford
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Cover and rivalry for Mykolenko at left-back
While there is some money available, thanks to new owners The Friedkin Group (TFG) and relaxed (but still restrictive) Premier League sustainability rules, the funds will not cover all of the club’s flaws. As a result, Everton will likely turn to loans and free agents to reinforce the squad.
A Costly Legacy: Short-Term Deals, Long-Term Problems
Moyes has been candid about the scale of the rebuild since returning to Everton. Before the final match of last season against Newcastle, he stated:
“Yes I am [worried]. I don’t think it’s something you’d have ideally as any manager — such a big changeover. We had five loan players. Most clubs have one or two. That alone gives you an idea.”
Now, four of those five loan players – Orel Mangala, Jesper Lindstrøm, Jack Harrison, and Armando Broja – have returned to their parent clubs. Meanwhile, the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Abdoulaye Doucouré, Ashley Young, João Virgínia, Asmir Begovic, Neal Maupay, and Mason Holgate have all left following contract expirations.
Only Maupay generated a fee, sold to Marseille for £3.4 million. In total, it’s 11 players out and only one in — a direct consequence of years spent patching holes instead of building sustainably.
Leadership Overhaul Under TFG Begins to Take Shape
The Friedkin Group has moved quickly to change the club’s football structure. With the departure of Kevin Thelwell (former director of football) and Dan Purdy, a new football leadership team is being installed.
Key appointments include:
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Nick Cox (former Manchester United academy director) as technical director – overseeing medical, operations, and player care across men’s, women’s, and academy teams.
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Nick Hammond – a seasoned transfer specialist now leading player trading operations.
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Chris Howarth – heading football strategy and analytics, whose Insight Sport consultancy has been absorbed into Everton.
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James Smith (from City Football Group) – appointed director of scouting and recruitment, starting in September.
This revamped structure signals a commitment to long-term success, but Moyes will need immediate solutions to avoid a crisis this season.
Moyes Wants Gradual Change — But Time is Short
Despite advocating for layer-by-layer squad building, Moyes accepts that such gradualism isn’t realistic this summer. With just weeks before the Premier League season begins, Everton face an uphill task: fix past mistakes while preparing for the future.
The new five-year deal for Jarrad Branthwaite is a rare positive in a difficult summer, showing the club’s intent to keep top talent. But unless significant reinforcements arrive soon, Moyes will enter the new campaign underprepared.
Conclusion: Can Everton Rebuild Before It’s Too Late?
Everton’s years of short-term signings, financial missteps, and reliance on loan players have come to a head. David Moyes now faces the unenviable challenge of stabilizing a thin, inexperienced squad while implementing a new vision for the club.
With new leadership, fresh ideas, and cautious optimism, the blueprint for change is in place — but the clock is ticking. For Everton to avoid another season flirting with relegation, action is needed now — not next window.
