Everton’s best-ever deadline-day signings: Romelu Lukaku and 33-goal icon
Everton have been extremely active on deadline day in the past.
With the summer transfer window now coming to a close, time is running out for David Moyes if he wants to make further additions to his squad.
Everton are said to be pursuing a midfielder in the closing days of the window as the Toffees look to finally move away from the relegation zone.
Now, Moyes could take inspiration from the Merseyside club’s past deals, with Goodison News looking back on Everton’s best-ever deadline-day signings.
Romelu Lukaku
Upon moving to Merseyside, Romelu Lukaku became an instant hit at Everton.
Joining the Toffees on loan with the option to buy at the end of the 2013 summer transfer window, the striker ended up netting 16 goals in his first campaign before signing permanently for a then-club record £28million.
- Lukaku was one of the best players in the Premier League at Everton
- The striker hit 20+ goals every season after joining the Toffees permanently
- Everton are yet to replace the attacker’s goals
After this, the Belgium international played another three campaigns at Everton, netting another 71 goals.
As a result, Lukaku won plenty of individual awards, including Everton Player of the Year and Everton Goal of the Season during his stay.
In 2017, the striker joined Manchester United for £75m, with the Toffees yet to replace the attacker’s goals.
- Read more: Why Everton are nicknamed the Toffees
Marouane Fellaini
Joining on deadline day in September 2008, Marouane Fellaini went on to become a star at Everton after signing for a then-club record fee of £15m.
The former Belgium international made 177 appearances for the Toffees over a five-year spell, netting 33 times.
Part of an iconic Moyes side that reached the final of the FA Cup, the attacking midfielder also won Everton’s Young Player of the Year award for the 2008/09 campaign.
Fellaini departed the Toffees in 2013, following Moyes to Manchester United. However, the Toffees would make a healthy £12.5m profit from the move.
The attacking midfielder was no doubt iconic at Everton, as his goals continued to be missed to this day.
Mikel Arteta
Joining on loan with the option of a permanent deal on deadline day in the winter transfer window, Mikel Arteta had an instant impact at Everton.
The midfielder went on to play a vital role in ensuring the Toffees qualified for the Champions League that season, playing 12 times in the Premier League.
- Arteta helped Everton to reach the Champions League in his first season
- The midfielder won numerous individual awards at the Toffees
- The Spaniard has since gone into management after retiring
After signing for £2m, the Spaniard continued to impress, winning both the Everton Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season the following campaign.
His time at the Toffees came to an end in 2011 after playing over 200 times and netting 35 goals.
Arteta would join Arsenal, the club where the Spaniard currently manages.
John Stones
A signing that definitely went under the radar at the time, John Stones joined Everton from Barnsley on 31 January 2013 for £3m.
The young defender went on to have a breakout campaign the following season, making 26 appearances in all competitions.
In the 2014/15 campaign, Stones would be voted Everton’s Young Player of the Season as his ability continued to improve.
- Stones made 95 appearances for Everton in all competitions
- The centre-back moved to Manchester City in 2016
- Stones has gone on to have a sensational career and has won the Premier League six times
In 2016, Manchester City would eventually snap the defender up for £50m, with the England international going on to have a sensational career.
However, given the profit Everton made on the centre-back in such a short period of time, it was no doubt a sensational bit of business.
In recent times, Stones has been linked with a return to Everton, and it remains to be seen if he rejoins the Toffees before he retires.
Idrissa Gana Gueye
The final player on this list is current Toffees midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye.
Gueye made his return to Goodison Park from PSG in 2022 for a reported £2m fee.
This would prove to be a bargain, with the 35-year-old continuing where he left off in Merseyside.
Going into his fourth season back at Everton, Gueye has already made an additional 105 appearances, with the midfielder winning the Player’s Player and Player of the Year for the 2024/25 campaign.
Hopefully, the 35-year-old can continue his form as he enters the twilight of his career.
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