At a time when Everton’s striking issues are at the forefront of many fans’ minds, one of Everton’s more successful forwards in recent memory returns to Merseyside to play at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday.
In four seasons at Everton, Richarlison scored 43 Premier League goals under four different managers, playing a crucial role in Everton’s escape from relegation in 2021-22 before departing for Tottenham Hotspur later that summer.
Since moving south, the now 28-year-old Brazilian has had an up-and-down time. He struggled in his first season after leaving Goodison Park, scoring just once in 27 Premier League appearances and spending two spells out with calf and hamstring injuries.
In his second year, under Ange Postecoglou, Richarlison enjoyed a resurgence in form, scoring 11 goals and notching four assists in 28 league games. But he struggled again last year, only appearing 15 times in the League with several lengthy spells out through injury.
With change afoot at both Everton and Tottenham Hotspur over the summer, the Toffees were reportedly interested in a move to bring Richarlison back to Merseyside.
But with Thierno Barry joining Everton, and first-choice Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke’s fitness a matter of concern, the move never left the rumour mill.
With Solanke sustaining an ankle injury, Richarlison has played a larger role than initially expected for Tottenham so far this year. The striker has scored three times in eight Premier League appearances, and is scoring at a better rate than he did in his most prolific Everton season.
But with Solanke set to return in early November, Randal Kolo Muani signed on deadline day, and Everton’s two strikers only scoring once between them, rumours of a return for Richarlison will likely make the papers once again heading into January.
So would a move for Richarlison back to Everton make sense?
Richarlison’s best Everton performances came when he played in a front two, acting as a second striker for Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Adept at making trailing runs off the striker and running onto flicked headers, Richarlison caused chaos alongside Calvert-Lewin, but didn’t perform as well when forced to operate as a lone striker.
However, at Tottenham, Richarlison has performed well as a lone striker, with one key difference. When called upon at Tottenham, he’s leading the line in a team that controls possession. In the last five matches where Richarlison has scored, Spurs have held more than 60% possession.
At Everton, where possession percentages are often in the low 40s, the striker’s role is as a physical presence. The need to hold up possession and allow for the team to break out from the back is much more important.
The only area where Thierno Barry and Beto outperform Richarlison is in their hold-up play; he wins fewer aerial duels and tackles than the big men.
A return for Richarlison would likely mean reverting to a two-up-front formation to accommodate him.
But that would mean a selection issue for David Moyes, who would hypothetically need to drop either of Everton’s two best players this season, Iliman Ndiaye or Jack Grealish, or risk a weaker midfield by dropping one of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, James Garner, or Idrissa Gueye.
It would also mean fewer minutes for developing talent like Charly Alcaraz and Tyler Dibling.
There are certainly merits to trying a two up front, but Iliman Ndiaye is equally suited to the role as Richarlison would be, and is already on the books.
As nice as it sounds, the time when a homecoming for Richarlison would be a straightforward upgrade for David Moyes and his team is probably in the past.
Reader Comments (47)
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2 Posted 25/10/2025 at 13:49:08
I cannot fathom how we haven't had a decent striker since the "couldn't trap a bag of cement" Lukaku went... Everton that!
3 Posted 25/10/2025 at 14:38:40
I would love to sign Richarlison and Toney in January, they would be a massive upgrade on Beto and Barry, and bring us up to the next level.
I can dream, can't i!
4 Posted 25/10/2025 at 14:43:51
5 Posted 25/10/2025 at 14:53:45
The MLS play-offs end in December and I wonder if there would be a short-term benefit to looking at a loan for Son Heung-Min in the way we loaned Landon Donovan in 2010? He could be looking for a way to stay fit and focussed ahead of the 2026 World Cup and would be a massive improvement on Beto or Barry.
6 Posted 25/10/2025 at 15:02:23
There are other players out there but our scouts seem unable to spot attacking talent.
7 Posted 25/10/2025 at 15:13:04
This will be controversial but if I were looking in that sort of direction, I'd go for Son. Apparently, his LA contract allows him to go on loan after the MLS season. With the World Cup on the horizon, rumors are he may fancy a Premier League loan.
Remember when Landon Donovan came in for a few months in similar fashion? Not a long-term solution obviously but would be nice while Ndiaye is off at the Afcon.
8 Posted 25/10/2025 at 15:21:24
9 Posted 25/10/2025 at 15:23:50
It's the genuine No 9 that we need... and as much as he wants to be, that's not him.
10 Posted 25/10/2025 at 15:32:43
Age, wage and histrionics! (rolling about)
11 Posted 25/10/2025 at 15:39:19
Not that bad surely? In a way, he did us a favour. He took out of the team a waste of space and gave a number of fans a chance to create a false myth that, despite evidence to the contrary, that beforehand Gomes was good.
12 Posted 25/10/2025 at 15:51:58
I do agree he was best from the left, and we are awash with that type of player.
13 Posted 25/10/2025 at 15:58:57
Yes, I'd take that Son and leave Richarlison behind!
14 Posted 25/10/2025 at 16:03:48
Generally, though, I think we should be looking to develop Barry and give him more opportunities. We need to have a clearer idea of what his potential is in the Premier League before we go into next summer.
15 Posted 25/10/2025 at 16:23:37
Obviously, centre-forward and right-back are two positions we need to strengthen but I don't see Richarlison or Son as players who we should consider as both would demand high wages and could not be considered as players for the future.
I think a new right-back should be considered a priority, and there are aspects to Beto's play which suggest he still might provide at least a temporary solution. Remembering his purple patch last season, his work rate and a very clear desire to improve his game I am hoping he may succeed.
16 Posted 25/10/2025 at 16:25:32
He looks shocked by the physicality of the English game and his confidence seems to have drained away. The manager is right to protect him and bring into games as a sub.
That leaves Beto, who plays like he’s trying to control a rugby ball. His misses are reaching comical status but we’re not laughing.
Toney or Richarlison on loan in January would make perfect sense, allowing David Moyes to develop Barry. I think they would both come as well.
17 Posted 25/10/2025 at 16:26:30
18 Posted 25/10/2025 at 17:44:23
I forgot about him but allegedly on £400k/week -- Ouch!
I would love to have Richarlison back, cue The Jackson Five -- I want You Back!
Hopefully the injuries may not re-occur if he's happy!
19 Posted 25/10/2025 at 18:23:16
I never really understand it because, 9 times out of 10, returning players are not very good (Gana has been decent lately).
Am I wrong in thinking this?
20 Posted 25/10/2025 at 18:35:16
I suspect it is because we have a lot of rosey-eyed romantics. When people come in, everyone expects them to be stars. Most aren't... but often times, once they leave, this misty-eyed "coulda shoulda woulda" takes over.
People spend endless hours wondering "What if the Scottish Rooney McFadden was given more game time?" "Maybe we should get the "Fox in the Box" Jeffers back," "Big Dunc has unfinished business here," "Rhino is the left-back / centre-back we need and his wife hates it in Birmingham."
But mostly, if they return, they are worse than before. Beagrie for example, Jeffers obviously, Rooney, Dunc, etc etc.
21 Posted 25/10/2025 at 19:18:40
I thought Gomes played his best football in a 3-man midfield, could never understand why they played him two in midfield, he hadn't the pace and couldn't tackle.
22 Posted 25/10/2025 at 19:39:08
But I'd still take Richarlison because we know him and he knows us. We need someone who knows how to score.
23 Posted 25/10/2025 at 19:49:25
I hated Toney. But I reckon he'd score more than Richarlison.
24 Posted 25/10/2025 at 19:50:22
I just feel Richarlison's injury record is a warning, along with him being older and not really a success at Spurs.
25 Posted 25/10/2025 at 23:29:09
While I think Jack would get the best out of him, the nuisance factor he brings is already matched by Beto (although they are nuisances in different ways — Beto for being a total donkey and Richarlison for his street-fighting style where he presses high and scores scrappy goals).
But we always get stung by Spurs, so the asking price is likely to be prohibitive.
26 Posted 26/10/2025 at 00:05:37
27 Posted 26/10/2025 at 00:20:38
I guess some fans just can't get away from Sentimental FC.
28 Posted 26/10/2025 at 00:38:33
I don't think he'd be averse to it, nor might Spurs, which is half the problem sorted right there.
Short version: only if the price was right.
29 Posted 26/10/2025 at 01:14:40
The question is this: “Who would be most effective and productive leading the attack from January to the end of the season: a) Beto, b) Barry, c) Richarlison?”
If anyone answered a) or b), then you cannot have watched Everton this season.
As for Richarlison's “injury record”, he has averaged 30 games a season for Spurs in his first 3 years.
30 Posted 26/10/2025 at 02:52:01
I'm baffled by the talk of Toney as well. He had one good season when he got 20 goals (6 penalties) but, other than that, hasn't been consistent at all. The fact that no one went for him and he ended up in Saudi says it all really...
Arsenal looked and said "Nope -- disruptive attitude." I don't know him obviously but he does give off that vibe a bit.
31 Posted 26/10/2025 at 02:57:21
32 Posted 26/10/2025 at 05:57:46
We're supposed to be moving forward, not hitting reverse.
33 Posted 26/10/2025 at 06:52:45
In terms of the player, I don't think he's what we even really need at the moment because he's not an out-and-out centre-forward.
What we need is someone who can lead the line, it's unlikely to happen but Toney would be perfect.
Toney with Richarlison playing off him would be great but Richarlison isn't getting in ahead of Ndiaye is he? Or Grealish.
34 Posted 26/10/2025 at 08:11:50
Doesn't Richarlison play Number 9 for Brazil?
35 Posted 26/10/2025 at 11:12:12
His goals per minute played is only bettered by Lukaku and Kevin Campbell in the Premier League era. In a BBC Sports article this morning, it stated “he reached double figures for goals in three of his four seasons on Merseyside -- despite spending nearly half of his Everton career on the wing.
In 2021-22 -- his final Everton campaign -- Richarlison made 66% of his Premier League starts at centre-forward and scored 10 goals to effectively avert relegation.”
He knows many of the players, loves the club, and would suit the manager's playing style down to the ground. Most importantly, he will perform better than Beto and Barry this season. He could lead the line for 6 months while Barry is given time and space to develop.
It would also give the club time to plan for selling Beto and signing a better striker next summer. Anyway, it probably won't happen, so it is a moot point.
36 Posted 26/10/2025 at 11:22:44
Amazing we had a dual carriageway running 40 yards behind the Park End, yet no road closures, nobody hurt. My journey home from the match to West Derby takes on average 2 hours, yet only takes 25 to 30 minutes going to the game.
Seems our Council are doing everything to make this journey even longer than it should be.
37 Posted 26/10/2025 at 11:31:39
Going on memory, I think at least half of those 10 games Richarlison scored in were against teams who beat us, including those two penalties v Burnley in a 3-2 loss.
38 Posted 26/10/2025 at 11:36:03
He may well do, but the Premier League, as you well know, is a totally different kind of animal to international football.
We can all have an opinion on what we think; for me, I just don't see Richarlison as a centre-forward. A wide forward? Yes.
39 Posted 26/10/2025 at 11:38:12
That should have read “those ten goals” not ten games and I'm not sure now if it was the same season Steve was referring to.
40 Posted 26/10/2025 at 11:53:11
As with any more established players like Toney, Gabriel Jesus and others, the big problem would be plonking them in a team which lacks pace, movement and width.
Football is a team game. And the limitations of our squad -- especially when Branthwaite is injured -- are hindering our ability to score goals.
41 Posted 26/10/2025 at 12:22:15
I would add that Richarlison was also very good at creating his own chances - and converting many we’d regard as half chances.
I’d certainly have him back.
42 Posted 26/10/2025 at 12:34:49
43 Posted 26/10/2025 at 13:36:56
44 Posted 26/10/2025 at 15:20:46
I'd like to imagine a player like Richarlison or Toney controlling the forward play in ways we can only dream of at present. Those half opportunities and feeds into Barry and Beto would have a different outcome.
45 Posted 26/10/2025 at 22:35:36
Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
46 Posted 26/10/2025 at 22:39:07
(Sorry, I can't stand the guy.)
47 Posted 26/10/2025 at 22:40:49
Prior to today, we were the 15th highest creators in the Premier League.
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1 Posted 25/10/2025 at 13:38:13
Practically and financially, challenging, what to do with Barry and Beto?
Swap for Barry then!