Vitinho to Everton latest as transfer ban officially kicks off in January
Everton’s 4-2 defeat to Brentford on Sunday only demonstrated where the Toffees must improve to achieve a European finish.
Everton still need to sign a striker this month, despite Thierno Barry and Beto both netting in that fixture at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Jake O’Brien’s woeful performance against Brentford has also accelerated the need to sign a right-back and finally address a position that lacks depth.
O’Brien has been filling in for David Moyes in that role due to the lack of a capable first-choice option, following an injury to Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson not being favoured.
So, with the January transfer window now open, Moyes will be looking to sign a new right-sided defender, and unfortunately, a transfer for Vitinho is off the cards.
Botafogo’s transfer ban makes Vitinho transfer impossible
Everton launched a move for Botafogo’s Vitinho in December, seeing the former Burnley man as a potentially exciting option down the right flank.
Botafogo recently valued Vitinho at around £13million, with Atletico Madrid also showing an interest in his signature ahead of the window opening.
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— Igor Siqueira (@igorsiqueira) December 31, 2025
Botafogo tomou mesmo o transfer ban por causa da dívida pelo Almada. Não conseguiu acordo e já entrou na lista da Fifa.
Textor tinha dito em nota que tinha 'recursos garantidos' para evitar isso. Mas eles não apareceram até agora. https://t.co/80N9X8FZcj pic.twitter.com/NMcMO3qf8w
Sadly, any chance of the 29-year-old leaving in January now looks off the cards, as his club were hit with a three-window transfer ban by FIFA after failing to pay Atlanta United a £15.4m fee for striker Thiago Almada in the summer of 2024.
Almada played for Botafogo across 17 games in the second half of 2024, then joined Lyon in 2025 for the remainder of the Ligue 1 season, before moving to Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2025.
Everton also dealt Jayden Bogle blow
Truthfully, Everton may have failed in their attempts to sign the Brazil international anyway, as Vitinho is focused on making Carlo Ancelotti’s 2026 World Cup squad and wanted to remain at Botafogo.
This news means Moyes has to move on to pursuing moves elsewhere, and as it stands, the Merseyside outfit are struggling to nail down a target.
There were whispers of Everton going in for Leeds right-back Jayden Bogle after watching the 25-year-old impress for the newly-promoted side.
He is going nowhere!
— BBC Sport West Yorkshire (@BBCWYS) January 5, 2026
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke says right-back Jayden Bogle is here to stay.#LUFC | #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/bB0fvCSc7V
But in Monday’s pre-match press conference, Daniel Farke shut down any chance of Bogle leaving in January.
“Bogle is our player and will be our player. Not even a topic we have to speak about,” Farke confirmed.
After missing out on Vitinho and Bogle, Moyes must ensure that a right-back is signed before the deadline shuts.