Seasons2020-21Everton News
Allan first through the door as Everton confirm capture of Brazilian
Everton have sealed the transfer of Allan Marques from Napoli in a deal worth £21m.
The Brazilian became the Toffees' first signing of the 2020 close season after months of being linked with a move to Goodison Park, with Director of Football, Marcel Brands, working to negotiate the fee down from as high as £35m, the amount at which the Serie A club is reported to have initially valued him when talks began.
The price is more than half of what Paris Saint-Germain were said to be willing to offer Napoli for the 29-year-old last year before that proposed deal collapsed and since then it has been Allan's desire to link back up with his former boss, Carlo Ancelotti.
Allan signs a three-year contract and joins compatriots Richarlison and Bernard on Merseyside. He will wear the number 6 jersey.
"It is a real pleasure to sign for Everton. I am immensely happy to be here," he told evertontv. "It is a club with a rich history in the Premier League, has real ambition and then there is Professor Ancelotti. He has done everything possible to bring me here.
"It is the size of the Club and the name of the coach which means you don't think twice about coming to Everton."

Ancelotti managed Allan at Napoli until he was sacked in December last year but the pair have been reunited at Goodison Park where the Italian has made it clear he needs urgent reinforcements capable of adding power and experience, particularly to the midfield he inherited from Marco Silva.
Allan, who has dual Brazilian and Portuguese citizenship, promises to add strength to that part of the team as well as more of a box-to-box presence than anyone currently at the club. While not a prolific goalscorer — he scored 16 times in 212 appearances in all competitions for Napoli — he is able to get forward, has a good turn of pace, and offers both strength and technique on the ball.
Listen
A segment from The Blue Room Extra interview with South American football journalist Tim Vickery, who offers his insight on Allan and James Rodriguez
He moved to Italy in 2012 after three years with Vasco da Gama in his native Brazil when he signed for Udinese and operated mostly as a defensive midfielder, helping that club to qualify for the Europa League in his first season there.
It was Allan's performances in 2014-15 that caught the attention of some of Europe's bigger clubs but it was Napoli who landed him in an €11.5m deal in 2015 and he would become a mainstay in the Partenopei's team.
He forced his way into his country's senior setup in 2018, making his international debut in London in a friendly against Uruguay and then played in the Copa America in June 2019, coming on a substitute in the dying minutes of the final against Peru after Richarlison had scored the goal that killed the match off at 3-1 from the penalty spot.
Regarded by many as one of the finest midfielders in Serie A before Ancelotti left Stadio San Paolo, Allan's form dipped under Gennario Gattuso but he was, nevertheless, a reported target of Juventus this summer. However, it was the pull of his ex-boss that drew him to Everton where he will become a central figure alongside André Gomes in the Blues' midfield.
Allan's arrival is part of a proposed overhaul of Everton's midfield, with deals for Colombian star James Rodriguez and Watford's Abdoulaye Doucouré reportedly done. Both players underwent medicals on Merseyside on Thursday and are expected to be confirmed in the coming days.
Reader Comments (36)
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2 Posted 05/09/2020 at 13:09:00
3 Posted 05/09/2020 at 13:10:34
4 Posted 05/09/2020 at 13:17:15
5 Posted 05/09/2020 at 13:18:06
But my worry is where does Gomes fit into the scheme of things?
He is the one of the two players, Holgate being the other, who can spray a perfect cross-field pass!!!
6 Posted 05/09/2020 at 13:21:45
James Rodriguez is the icing on the cake.
7 Posted 05/09/2020 at 13:22:56
"Professor" Ancelotti!
8 Posted 05/09/2020 at 13:27:19
9 Posted 05/09/2020 at 13:37:14
It's a good piece of dealing by Brands and Co if we get all three of them, at the quoted costs.
Hopefully the start of an era where Everton gets back its pride and can challenge the top six.
10 Posted 05/09/2020 at 13:42:56
11 Posted 05/09/2020 at 13:43:51
Complete overhaul of midfield, exactly what we needed.
Now it's time for Carlo to coach them up.
Second best midfield of my time: Pip, Arteta, Cahill
Best midfield of my time: Barry, McCarthy, Barkley
Allan, Doucouré, Rodriguez: where will they fall in the pecking order? Time will tell, but I'm excited to see where we go from here.
12 Posted 05/09/2020 at 13:48:15
13 Posted 05/09/2020 at 13:49:56
Each summer transfer window is different, so I'm all excited again for an outcome we're going to witness in the near future. C-O-Y-B!
14 Posted 05/09/2020 at 14:01:37
Cillessen talk seems to be gathering pace. Even though he sat on the Valencia bench for some of last season he won't be coming to us to do the same. Maybe Jordan is under serious threat.
Who is the keeper this afternoon? Everyone on international duty.
15 Posted 05/09/2020 at 14:05:43
16 Posted 05/09/2020 at 14:22:12
Rodriguez and Doucouré give us depth, experience and quality, assuming they sign too.
I'm assuming that will be it – bar teenage prospects or maybe a free transfer goalie who is better than Léssl (and possibly Pickford too).
It remains an extremely competitive league, however. So it will be interesting to see what Ancelotti can do with a squad that is still probably about 7th best (at best).
A Mourinho meltdown and an injury to Vardy or Aubameyang would make things very interesting.
17 Posted 05/09/2020 at 14:33:17
We needed this signing to show Everton's ambitions for the future, as the signing of this player could bring in other players that will improve the team.
18 Posted 05/09/2020 at 14:45:42
I think the success of this transfer may well depend on Allans level of professionalism and conditioning. Is he going to be more Distin (who was still an incredible athlete in his mid 30s) or Rooney (who had almost totally lost his acceleration and top speed) by the time he hit 30)?
Unlike Gareth Barry a lot of Allans game when at its best is based on covering ground quickly. Fingers crossed.
19 Posted 05/09/2020 at 14:57:53
20 Posted 05/09/2020 at 15:01:38
The player will add some much needed bite to our midfield. I hope he can pick up the lingo quick, as we need him barking at his teammates.
21 Posted 05/09/2020 at 15:05:06
22 Posted 05/09/2020 at 15:11:31
23 Posted 05/09/2020 at 15:26:24
24 Posted 05/09/2020 at 15:56:08
25 Posted 05/09/2020 at 15:59:10
26 Posted 05/09/2020 at 16:32:39
27 Posted 05/09/2020 at 16:33:29
28 Posted 05/09/2020 at 17:10:56
29 Posted 05/09/2020 at 23:00:09
Like most I was pretty despondent at the end of the season and we all knew that our midfield was the main issue, my glass is now filling up nicely with positivity!
30 Posted 06/09/2020 at 00:20:02
31 Posted 06/09/2020 at 01:24:28
32 Posted 06/09/2020 at 10:00:00
Made up to finally see one of our intended targets wearing the Royal Blue, and echo fellow TWers' appreciation of Carlo, Brands, and the negotiating team for getting this across the line.
As to what the formation will be, we'll have to see, but assuming the others arrive soon and are fit, it will be interesting to see if all three along with Gomes will be employed as a unit.
Still think we need a couple more in at right-back, goalkeeper and possibly a striker too, but there is still nearly a month in the Transfer Calendar to organise something. A lot will depend on who we can move on too, like most windows, there is always a flurry of activity in the last day or two.
33 Posted 06/09/2020 at 10:23:02
34 Posted 06/09/2020 at 10:33:27
I think what's a little bit more uncertain is how this very short pre-season will affect teams. We have played Blackpool when the players had only been back in training for a short period, then yesterday played Preston NE with most of the first team away on International duty. With also the likelihood of having 3 new players in the squad for the Spurs game, it will be interesting to see what our line up will be.
So not an ideal preparation for the start of the season, but I am sure most teams will be in the same position. I don't see the sense of International games taking place a week before the season starts.
35 Posted 06/09/2020 at 12:59:57
Anyway welcome Chesney!!
36 Posted 06/09/2020 at 15:43:37
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1 Posted 05/09/2020 at 13:05:42