Abdoulaye Doucouré 16

With midfield having been identified as an area of the team that needed an urgent overhaul after Carlo Ancelotti's first half-season in charge, Everton moved decisively in the 2020 close season to bring in three players who could potentially make an immediate impact on club's fortunes. After Allan and James Rodriguez were confirmed as the first new additions in the first week of September, Abdoulaye Doucoure was confirmed in a deal worth an initial £20m.

At one stage reportedly valued by the Hornets at £50m, Doucouré’s price was negotiated down to more than half, although a further £5m in appearance-related add-ons could eventually bring the transfer up to £25m.

Born in Meulan-en-Yvelines in Île de France, Doucuoré began his career at Rennes where he played 75 Ligue 1 games and scored 12 goals before the Hornets picked him up for an undisclosed fee in 2016.

He spent a year on loan at Granada before breaking into the first team at Vicarage Road and played 129 Premier League matches there, notching 17 goals.

At one time a target for his former boss, Marco Silva, when he was Everton manager, he leaves Watford after four seasons after that club’s relegation back to the Championship prompted Doucouré to seek a path back to the Premier League.

Identified by Marcel Brands and Carlo Ancelotti as the kind of powerful, energetic presence the Blues’ midfield needs, he signed a three-year contract with the option to add a fourth, and slotted straight in to a completely revamped midfield for the start of the 2020-21 season.

Doucouré would do well enough, until he had 2 months out injured in the spring, when Everton arguably needed him most as the performances dropped off and Ancelotti manifestly failed to inspire the kind of fight needed to secure European football. 

FactFile