Credit: Imago

James Barker

Sat 21 March 2026 20:10, UK

Wayne Rooney has revealed he tried to sign Everton midfielder James Garner on loan when he was manager of Derby County.

There simply haven’t been many better central midfielders in the Premier League this season than James Garner.

Everton’s number 37 has been a revelation for the Toffees this term, after a solid first three years on Merseyside has seen him blossom into a player now worthy of an England call-up by Thomas Tuchel.

Garner was his typically excellent self on Saturday, as David Moyes’ men ran out 3-0 winners over Chelsea at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Everton will be prepping for interest in Garner this summer, and as revealed by Rooney, he’s clearly had his admirers for a long time.

What Wayne Rooney said about James Garner transfer attempt

Garner grabbed the assist for Beto’s first goal in Everton’s win over Chelsea, playing a lovely threaded ball that split the Blues’ centre-backs in two, before the Toffees striker dinked the ball past Robert Sanchez.

So, whilst it was a night that will undoubtedly – and rightly – see Beto take the headlines, Garner quietly put in yet another superb display, and one that proved exactly why he’s received the Three Lions call.

And, speaking via BBC Sport during Everton’s victory on Saturday, Rooney has revealed that he even tried to sign Garner during his time as Derby County manager, of which he performed between November 2020-June 2022.

“I think James Garner been really good this season. He’s played at right-back as well as in midfield in his natural position,” Rooney began.

“Defensively he’s really good, he’s been a real stand-out player for Everton and his assist today was magnificent. I think he fully deserves his call-up to the England squad.

“I’ve known him since he was a young lad. Obviously, he came through Man United’s academy. He’s a player I looked at and tried to get in on loan at Derby County but unfortunately he went to Nottingham Forest instead and scored against us.

“He’s always had potential and he’s fulfilling that potential now.”

Rooney then predicted that he will get minutes for England under Tuchel, saying: “I think he’ll get game time for England. (Thomas) Tuchel’s going to leave 11 players out (v Uruguay) so I think he’ll get some playing time.”

Everton can keep Garner if they qualify for Europe

Now coming into the prime of his career, it would be totally understandable from an Everton perspective if Garner wanted to cash in on what he’s done this season and get a big-money move.

However, his England call-up will say to him that he’s under a bright enough spotlight at Hill Dickinson Stadium to sustain an international career, and that he doesn’t necessarily have to go chasing a massive move in order to get that.

On top of that, the Toffees are now closing in on the European places, and should they reach them, Garner wouldn’t require a transfer away to get a taste for continental cup football either.

He certainly doesn’t look like a player who has any burning desire to leave Merseyside either, and if Everton do make Europe for 2026-27, Garner will have played a vital part in that.