Everton went into the final hours of the summer 2024 transfer window expecting to get at least one incoming and one outgoing deal done but ended up bringing in two new players, one of them at the very last minute.
Orel Mangala had arrived on Merseyside last evening to undergo a successful medical and he completed a loan move of his own to Goodison Park from Lyon.
Everton struck a deal with the Ligue 1 club for the Belgian international this week and he became the second signing of the close season from Parc Olympique Lyonnais and the Blues’ seventh overall.
The Club were hopeful they could land another pacy winger before the deadline but ultimately failed with a late move for Ernest Nuamah before very late-breaking news of a loan approach for forward Armando Broja.
A fee was reportedly agreed with Lyon for the Ghanaian but the Blues were unable to persuade him to move to Merseyside over London. Fulham eventually appeared to have won the race to sign him pending the completion of the necessary paperwork before the window closes but that deal was still not done by the time the window closed.
As the deadline passed, it emerged that Everton had lodged a bid for Broja with Chelsea to take the Albanian international on loan with a £30m option to buy next summer. A deal sheet was submitted just in time, with the two clubs having a further two hours to complete the necessary paperwork, with confirmation coming in around 2am.
Neal Maupay has returned to his native France, initially on loan to Marseille who have agreed to purchase the striker for €5.5m at the end of the season, while
Mason Holgate was once again surplus to requirements and available. Sheffield Wednesday made an approach for the defender after a switch to Lyon reportedly fell through but late in the evening a return to West Bromwich Albion on loan emerged as the most likely opportunity for him and he departed for the Hawthorns for the remainder of the season.
There was also the possibility that up-and-coming youngsters could secure season-long loan moves. Jenson Metcalfe has joined Chesterfield on a season-long loan, Billy Crellin has made a temporary switch to Accrington Stanley while Francis Okoronkwo has joined Salford City for the year. Halid Djankpata has left for Spezia on a permanent basis.
Coming into the Under-21s setup is Francis Gomez who has been picked up from Nigerian club Sporting Supreme and set straight out on loan to Lyon for the season.
Sean Dyche intimated during his press conference ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth, however, that Harrison Armstrong and Roman Dixon may need to remain to bolster a stretched squad.
Dyche was also asked if Maupay’s departure would free up funds to enable the Club to bring in another new face but the manager was typically cautious with his words.
“Not necessarily,” he replied. “The money’s absorbed into the club in different ways so we’ll have to wait and see. And it’s not just about money you understand, it’s the availability at this late stage of the window — who’s out there, who could be done, who might not be able to be done, that sort of thing.”
On Mangala, Dyche had confirmed that the midfielder was on his way to Merseyside and that he was hopeful the transfer would get over the line.
“He’s a player who is making his way over, but there’s still a lot to do with the details of any deal, as there always is, of course,” the manager said. “But there’s a chance of getting him over and seeing if that deal can be done.
“He’s got a bit more know-how that some of the other plans we’ve brought in having played in the Premier League.”
Meanwhile, though there has been plenty of speculation over his future, Dominic Calvert-Lewin looks set to remain at Everton, with Dyche expressing his hope that there would be no 11th-hour bid for the striker that might tempt the Club into cashing in.
Paul Joyce of The Times reports that Chelsea discussed a £10m deal that would see David Datro Fofana go in the other direction but the two clubs were far apart on valuation and Everton had no interest in Fofana.