Everton Football Club is one of the most historical in the English game, having been one of the founding members of the English football league. The Toffees have endured periods of glory in their illustrious history.
However, in recent decades the men from Merseyside have struggled to make an impact in the Premier League. Since the arrival of majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri in 2016, the Toffees have spent big on bringing in new players.
This has not always been money well spent. Here we are going to detail Everton’s top ten most expensive signings. The fact that all of the signings have come in the last decade illustrates how the Toffees have splashed the cash in recent years. So, without further ado, here are Everton’s top ten most expensive signings:
Gylfi Sigurdsson (Bought from Swansea for £44m)
The Icelandic international joined in the summer of 2017 for the eye-watering fee of £44m. Many questioned the fee at the time. However, Sigurdsson was Swansea’s star player and was regarded as a set-piece specialist, and had scored some important goals for the Welsh outfit.
Sigurdsson blew hot and cold on Merseyside but was always going to struggle to repay his massive fee with his performances. The attacking midfielder scored 31 goals and produced 25 assists in 156 appearances for the Toffees in all competitions.
He left Everton in the summer of 2022 when his contract expired. He had not featured for the men from Merseyside in season 2021/22 due to an alleged off-the-field legal issue.
Richarlison (Bought from Watford for £36m)
The Brazilian international arrived at Everton in the summer of 2018 for an initial fee of around £36m that could have risen to £50m in add-ons. The Brazilian soon became a crowd favourite because of his tenacity and guile.
The forward played a crucial role in helping Everton beat the drop in season 2021/22. His performances raised interest from elsewhere, and he joined Tottenham Hotspur in a deal that could eventually rise to £50m with add-ons. Richarlison left the club with a record of 53 goals and 14 assists in 152 appearances.
Romelu Lukaku (Bought from Chelsea for £31m)
The Belgian striker initially joined the Toffees on loan before making a permanent switch to Merseyside in the summer of 2014 for around £31m. Lukaku arrived as one of the best up-and-coming strikers, and during his time at Everton, he developed into a top-class striker.
Lukaku scored 87 goals and also produced 29 assists in 166 appearances for Everton. His goals caught the eye of Manchester United, and in 2017 Lukaku headed to Old Trafford for a fee of around £75m.
Amadou Onana (Bought from Lille for £31.5m)
Lukaku’s compatriot arrived from Lille in the summer of 2022 for a fee of around £31.5m. The young midfielder was developing a reputation as an exciting youngster in Ligue One.
Reportedly, the Toffees beat West Ham to the Belgian midfielder’s signature. The early signs are positive for Onana. Everton had been crying out for quality in the centre of midfield, and Onana looks to be a player that can provide that for years to come for the Merseysiders.
Alex Iwobi (Bought from Arsenal for £28m)
The Nigerian international joined Everton from Arsenal for a fee of around £28m in 2019. Iwobi had shown flashes of his ability in a Gunners shirt but had struggled for consistent performances. Iwobi struggled to show his quality in a blue shirt for the first couple of seasons.
However, Iwobi’s performances improved towards the end of season 2021/22. A switch to a central midfield role seemed to bring the best out of the midfielder at the start of season 2022/23.
Yerry Mina (Bought from Barcelona for £27m)
The Colombian arrived from Catalan giants Barcelona in the summer of 2019 for a fee of around £27m. Mina, on his day, can dominate in both boxes and be a towering presence, like he has been for his national team in the past.
The problem is that Mina has struggled to stay fit, and almost constant injuries have disrupted his Everton career. The centre-back’s contract expires in the summer of 2023.
Yannick Bolasie (Bought from Crystal Palace for £26m)
The winger arrived on Merseyside in the summer of 2016 from Crystal Palace. The mercurial winger had been wildly inconsistent but exciting during his Eagles career. He had the ability to take on the best defenders, although there were question marks surrounding his end product.
Injury problems meant that the likeable winger never really got going at Everton. The winger was loaned out to several clubs, including Aston Villa, Sporting CP and Middlesbrough, before he permanently left the Toffees in the summer of 2021, as he joined Turkish team Rizespor as a free agent.
Michael Keane (Bought from Burnley for £25m)
The centre-back arrived from Burnley for a fee of £25m in the summer splurge of 2017. Keane had impressed at the heart of the Clarets’ defence in a low-block defence. Sean Dyche’s pragmatic system of play certainly played to Keane’s strength.
The centre-back has enjoyed mixed fortunes on Merseyside, but his attributes have never really suited playing more expansive football, as a lack of his pace is his biggest weakness. He is still in the Toffees squad but is long longer the first choice in the heart of their backline.
Jordan Pickford (Bought from Sunderland for £25m)
The England international joined in the same summer as Keane. He had produced some stunning displays for Sunderland, which persuaded Everton to part with £25m. Earlier in his career, he was prone to mistakes, but as he has matured, he has become one of the Toffees and England’s most reliable players.
He doesn’t just make stunning saves, as he is also superb with the ball at his feet, which is one of the main reasons he remains first-choice for England at international level.
Moise Kean (Bought from Juventus for £27m)
Kean arrived in 2019 from Juventus as one of the best young striking prospects in the world game. The striker headed to Merseyside in search of more regular first-team football. The move didn’t work out at all, as the forward scored just four goals in 39 appearances for the Toffees.
The Italian international spent just one full season on Merseyside before a loan switch to PSG. Despite a successful loan spell in Paris, the French club decided against making Kean’s move permanently. In the summer of 2021, Juventus took Kean on a two-year loan, paying a £6m loan fee.
The Bianconeri will sign Kean on a permanent basis in the summer of 2023 if all the conditions of his contract are met.