Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media

Max Wilkins

Fri 29 May 2026 16:10, UK

Everton have maintained their interest in soon-to-be free agent Diogo Leite.

The Toffees are in the market for new defensive options, and this has led to early moves to add to the backline.

West Ham right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka has emerged as a target, but it also looks as if a centre-half is also on the shopping list.

That has seen attention turn to the 27-year-old ahead of his imminent departure from Union Berlin this summer.

Leite is still being eyed by Everton as offers flood in for the Portuguese defender, with just weeks until his contract in Germany expires.

Everton remain in talks with Diogo Leite

There is a desire from David Moyes and Co. to add to the backline in L3, something which won’t come as a surprise.

A new left-footed centre-back is needed on Merseyside, and on a free transfer, a move for the former Porto man would make sense.

He is coming off the back of four years with Union Berlin, but is packing his bags as his current deal looks set to come to an end.

That has piqued interest at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Rudy Galetti reporting on Friday that the Toffees remain in contact with the defender.

Real Sociedad, Eintracht Frankfurt and Besiktas are also still in talks, with a Saudi PIF-owned club now said to be in the race.

🚨🇸🇦 EXCL | A Saudi PIF-owned club has now made a concrete move for Diogo Leite, entering the race strongly and increasing competition around the Portuguese defender.

Real Sociedad, Everton, Eintracht Frankfurt and Beşiktaş remain among the teams already in contact. pic.twitter.com/1nJmM7n0lb

— Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) May 29, 2026

They have reportedly made a “concrete move” for the former Portugal youth international to increase the competition for his signature.

Leite is highly regarded at Everton, so any move for the centre-half will need to speed up if they are to beat this Saudi Arabian outfit in the race.

How far could Everton go to sign Leite?

There is always going to be increasing levels of interest in the 1999-born ace as he becomes available for free.

That leaves the ball in his court over where he wants to go, so the Toffees will have to make an offer that he can’t refuse if they want him.

Leite is reportedly paid £25,000 per week at Union Berlin right now, equating to a yearly salary in the region of £1.3million.

That could take a sizable step up in the summer, regardless of where he goes, leaving Everton to consider how much they would pay the Portuguese centre-half.

They could look at a weekly wage of around £50,000 as part of this deal, which would rank him at a similar salary to the likes of Vitaliy Mykolenko and Seamus Coleman.

It feels unlikely that they would go any further than that fee, as a higher fee would put him among the top earners in L3.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.