Credit: Imago

Daniel Davis

Wed 15 April 2026 9:10, UK

Try as he might, Tyrique George will know the odds of securing a permanent move to Everton are stacked against him despite his bright cameo against Brentford.

Post-match, David Moyes declared he was pleased with what he had seen from the youngster’s 16-minute outing, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall labelled him a “real threat”.

“Look, we are going to need him, definitely for the rest of the games – and other people,” Dewsbury-Hall told Everton TV. “It’s not just going to be the 11 who are on the pitch.”

The Toffees certainly leaned on the 20-year-old as they rallied back to clinch a late point at the Gtech Community Stadium. His direct runs down the right-hand side were just the tonic for the visitors, not to mention a refreshing change of pace as the clock ticked down.

The 2-2 draw with Brentford helped Moyes’ side stay in the hunt for Europe, and George will hope to play his part in helping them get over the line in the coming weeks.

Jury still out over Tyrique George

George was brought on as part of a triple substitution in the 74th minute and had the desired impact at one end. Down the other, however, he was arguably culpable for Brentford’s second goal, which threatened to cut the visitors adrift of the top seven.

Igor Thiago put the home side ahead after diverting Michael Kayode’s effort past Jordan Pickford, but really, the move should have been stopped before the decisive touch. George was guilty of losing Kayode in the build-up and was given a grilling by James Tarkowski.

These lapses in concentration should be forgiven, though. The forward has been restricted to drips and drabs this campaign, and when he has played, he has performed on the edge. He is an unpredictable livewire, and despite his rawness, he is clearly a serious talent.

George relished dancing inside onto his stronger right boot against Brentford but was equally adept on his left, allowing him to pose questions of the hosts’ backline with several devilish crosses. He also saw an effort saved before Everton’s equaliser.

Crucially, he was involved in that leveller, too, having occupied defenders before Dewsbury-Hall snatched up a rebound at the near post and finished in the 91st minute.

His performance quickly clicked into top gear, hinting that he will have a role in propelling the Toffees closer to the Champions League spots. But regardless, his future at Hill Dickinson Stadium looks unlikely to stretch beyond the end of the campaign.

Everton are reported to hold an option to buy the winger for £25million in the summer, but at present, that does not look like good value for money. He has been too inconsistent since arriving on Merseyside and is far from the finished product, making his price tag a big risk.

George has played just 120 minutes of football over his six Toffees matches to date, and The Friedkin Group are therefore right to hold off on sanctioning a permanent switch.

Why did Everton sign George?

But there is no doubt that the youngster neatly typified their strong late response in West London. His direct running and willingness to stretch play cause a different sort of problem for opponents, with Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil often preferring the ball to feet.

This change in dynamism is exactly why Moyes is likely to have signed him. He is another string to the bow, allowing the Scot to field any number of combinations between his talented frontline, and, crucially, he can help partially replace the magic of Jack Grealish.

However, with just six Premier League matches remaining, George is running out of time to prove once and for all that he merits his hefty £25m valuation. Moyes has not yet formed a full judgement, but will likely know that signing him permanently is a gamble.

It speaks volumes that Everton are in the market for a new winger.

They have been linked with FC Koln’s Said El Mala, with reports tipping them to swoop in the summer, while Leicester City’s Abdul Fatawa is also on their shortlist. The big question for Moyes to consider is whether either target would be able to offer more than George.

What is certain is that the £25m quoted for George could be enough to bring in Grealish for another campaign at the very least, while securing a spot in Europe would also free up further funds that could be used to cast the net wider. It is certainly a conundrum.

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