Eyebrows were raised in the summer when Carlos Alcaraz was signed permanently.
Not that Alcaraz had not impressed during his loan spell from Flamengo following his arrival late in the 2025 January transfer window. The Argentine, while not establishing himself as a regular starter, had proved his value, scoring twice — including a winner on his Premier League debut for Everton against Crystal Palace — and providing two assists.
Both of those assists came for Beto, and it seemed that Everton had stumbled upon a partnership that could work, with Alcaraz’s direct approach and willingness to play through balls in behind, suiting how Beto prefers to operate.
In 774 minutes of Premier League action, Alcaraz ranked in the 86th percentile of attacking midfielders (in Europe’s top five leagues) for assists, in the 76th for shot-creating actions and 88th for progressive passes.
It was, then, a bit of a no-brainer for Everton to make Alcaraz their first permanent signing of the 2025 summer transfer window. He had been signed on loan with an option to buy.
Yet Everton elected to try and squeeze Flamengo. Some fans questioned that approach, though this writer is unsure why. It was sensible. Flamengo needed to sell a player who had failed to settle, and the opportunity was there to save money. In the end, Alcaraz signed for a fee that was reported to be around £12million. In the current market, not bad at all.
However, there were some signs that Everton, or particularly, David Moyes, were not wholly convinced. Alcaraz signed only a two-year deal. For a player of his age (22 at the time), it felt like an extremely short deal. Everton do have an option to extend it until 2028, but still, it is rare for younger players to be on such short contracts.
Alcaraz should have done enough to earn Moyes’ trust last season. He is a tireless worker, willing to play in several different roles and, when he does feature, he has a habit of making an impact.
Yet the arrivals of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish nudged Alcaraz down the pecking order, and he hardly played across the opening weeks of the season. He was harshly taken off at half-time in September’s EFL Cup defeat to Wolves, but did then come on to great effect against Crystal Palace on October 5, helping to swing the game in Everton’s favour.
Alcaraz’s chance was always going to come as injuries, suspensions and absences began to take hold, but there is definitely a case to say he was underused early on in the campaign.
But having come off the bench in the 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United at the end of November, Alcaraz has since started four of Everton’s five league games.
He played well and provided an assist in a disciplined, gritty team performance at Bournemouth, and showed flashes of what he can do against Nottingham Forest. But in the three games since then, Alcaraz has not just flattered to deceive — he has been downright poor.
We must remember that, despite his top-flight experience, Alcaraz has only just turned 23. He is still young and clearly needs patience.
But it is also fair to say that Everton need better from him, especially with key creators such as Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye absent.
Alcaraz was an early substitute for the stricken Dewsbury-Hall at Chelsea on December 13; not long after coming on, he played a blind pass towards Everton’s defence, which gifted Alejandro Garnacho a golden opportunity. Only a desperate James Tarkowski lunge and a poor finish stopped Alcaraz’s daft mistake from costing Everton a goal.
Against Arsenal a week later, Alcaraz was extremely sloppy. Under-hitting or misdirecting passes, dallying too long in possession. And it was the same against Burnley last Saturday.
The performance at Turf Moor was particularly frustrating. With Jack Grealish joining Everton’s other star names on the sidelines, Alcaraz had a chance to really strut his stuff against a team in the bottom three. To show he is capable of helping Everton create more chances on a regular basis.
Instead, he was hesitant in possession, often dallying too long on the ball after he had done well initially. There were multiple opportunities in the first half where Alcaraz — who is excellent at carrying the ball from deep — charged forward having spun his marker, but then the final pass let him down.
All that being said, Alcaraz has a habit of popping up in the right places, at the right time. He could have perhaps done better with a free header from a looping Tyler Dibling cross, which he instead directed right at Martin Dubravka, while an audacious bicycle kick in the second half might have looped over the Burnley goalkeeper on another day.
But the statistics paint a grim picture. Sure, Alcaraz has found opportunities harder to come by, so that must be taken into account. However, he is ranked in just the 41st percentile for attacking midfielders when it comes to progressive passes and the 32nd for shot-creating actions. He only ranks in the 75th percentile or higher for two possession-based metrics — pass completion (75th) and passes attempted (80th).
This run was — and still is — Alcaraz’s chance to really earn Moyes’ trust. His work ethic cannot be questioned, but his decision-making, for a player with such obvious quality, must improve. It is not just a case of Alcaraz taking risks; that is not a flaw. He is an attacking player who should be encouraged to try and make things happen. But the gulf in quality between himself and Dewsbury-Hall in key positions and moments has been quite stark at times.
With Merlin Rohl now back from injury, and the possibility that Harrison Armstrong could be recalled from his loan at Preston North End, Alcaraz needs to up his game in the coming matches. Whether he starts or ends up coming off the bench, Everton need Alcaraz to deliver some consistency.
*All stats from FBref
Reader Comments (27)
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2 Posted 29/12/2025 at 12:38:52
The first being that Charly Alcaraz has lots of ability but his career to date suggests be hasn't been able to consistently produce what we have seen him capable of at times since he first came in January, which suggests that's why he's had quite a few clubs already.
The second is that, when we signed him, he was basically the man, the catalyst we needed to inject quality going forward, the attacking midfielder that we had been missing under Dyche in that first half of last season, and I think he actually enjoyed being the number one, the man to take on that mantel and he was arguably our best player with Ndiaye between February and May.
This season, however, he has had his nose put out of joint a little with the arrival of Jack Grealish basically taking over that tag of our fans favorite and chief creator, coupled with the fact we have Ndiaye producing relatively high levels when he plays still.
Moyes took the option that sign him, so he must have thought something of him, and,from what we seen last season, he has got ability, he was a threat to the opposition, he could carry the ball, he could shoot, scored two big winners at Palace and Newcastle for us.
Who knows, it could just be that a lack of football now is stunting any further progress from Charly.
Only time will tell but we are going to be needing him firing on all cylinders this next month or so.
3 Posted 29/12/2025 at 14:00:10
Yes, he carries the ball and can see a good lay-off, particularly on the counter attack, which I think is his key skill and contribution to the team.
But I also think his defensive contribution and some of his passing, particularly in dangerous areas, are his weak points. He is far more direct and moves the ball faster than the likes of Grealish, which would suit our forwards better, but then again, Grealish doesn't generally lose the ball or give away sloppy passes.
There may be a place for him if Dewsbury-Hall is back and plays deeper, allowing him to have less responsibility for defensive duties, but when you don't have the ball, you need everybody to dig in to retrieve it.
4 Posted 29/12/2025 at 14:11:21
We have got to play Rohl instead, and when we have a fully fit squad, I wouldn't even have him on bench.
Let's hope we get Armstrong back in January.
5 Posted 29/12/2025 at 14:18:50
He's an alright player. Lacks pace, gives the ball away a bit cheaply, and just lacks top-end class.
But for £12M and he's been through a few clubs already, it isn't surprising. We've had worse.
6 Posted 29/12/2025 at 14:25:43
I haven't seen anything from Rohl yet to be honest, he's looked okay but he hasn't played anything like enough to make an assessment on him. I'd need to see him put 20 or 30 games together first.
I don't know what his strength is yet, whether he's quick, strong, can shoot... I haven't seen anything other than bits and pieces.
Harrison Armstrong may be a good shout but whether he comes straight into the side, who knows? If he followed Ross Barkley's path, then it may be decent scenario on the horizon for us, as much as Barkley took stick, over the years, he was a progressive attacking threat.
I haven't seen Armstrong close up to know much of him.
7 Posted 29/12/2025 at 14:28:21
He helped turn the game against Palace, his reward came when Dewsbury-Hall was suspended -- a starting place against Man City, the next week playing out of position, and then he played in our last two victories, with his reward being to be put right back on the bench once Gueye's suspension was over.
He's definitely good enough for Everton, especially if he can take that unnecessary casualness out of his game, which is also probably the only way the manager is going to trust him.
8 Posted 29/12/2025 at 14:47:25
Dewsbury-Hall looks better as an orthodox centre-mid. So play Alcaraz as the attacking centre-mid. We could probably play him as a striker considering how shite the other 2 are.
He should have had a lot more minutes this season as should have Dibling and McNeil. I know our squad is weak but Moyes has used the least amount of subs in the Premier League this season.
Clubs are starting to embrace multiple subs to add fresh legs and changes of tactics. We just replace Beto after 60 minutes and then a time-wasting sub around 89 minutes.
I have seen nothing in Rohl to suggest he is a Premier League player. He has been bought as a 6ft-2in workhorse. Another head scratcher from our scouting team, as is the young left-back and £30M striker.
9 Posted 29/12/2025 at 14:47:34
His early instinct, and what I liked most about him, was to turn on receiving the ball and move or pass forward.
In the few matches I've seen him play this season, he's joined in with the "pass it back and retain possession" style that is becoming more and more prevalent as the season goes on.
His natural, attacking style has been stifled.
10 Posted 29/12/2025 at 15:47:02
I fully agree.
11 Posted 29/12/2025 at 16:01:11
He can be a driving force off the bench, and we need that, but I question whether he'll ever have the skills or decision-making abilities required for a true #10. More minutes will tell us.
12 Posted 29/12/2025 at 16:11:54
He is extremely hard working and forward looking and can score goals. His heading is not too shabby either.
The negatives:-
He lacks discipline and is a bit carefree with his passing and also seems to have had a lot of confidence beaten out of him.
With Beto and Barry performing so poorly, I have advocated playing Charly as a false 9 bringing in another midfield player behind him. I am sure this would give us more goals than the pathetic giants playing up front.
13 Posted 29/12/2025 at 16:25:41
He reminds me of one of those players who has a very good game, then has 6 fairly poor games; sadly, not consistent enough.
14 Posted 29/12/2025 at 16:26:18
15 Posted 29/12/2025 at 16:37:09
This would make sense if no signings are being made in January.
The other 2 duds can go and work at a gym or something.
16 Posted 29/12/2025 at 16:48:51
The desire and talent are there, that attacking energy needs to be timed and disciplined. I am not sure about the discipline but perhaps with regular time in the ACM role he can develop some chemistry that will go next level when Grealish and Ndiaye return.
17 Posted 29/12/2025 at 18:00:08
Confidence seems to affect him, he's trying to prove he should be a starter and trying too hard sometimes,
I'd play him over McNeil on the left or right or middle every day!
I think he would benefit if he was in the team with Ndiaye, Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall to link with. He's still a young lad though and his fee was miniscule.
18 Posted 29/12/2025 at 22:35:14
He works like a trooper, he presses harder than almost everyone, I think it will come.
If the two up top keep playing as poorly as they are currently, I'd play him in the 9, reminds me a bit of Tim Cahill with his heading ability, great leap and timing, plus he is Argentinian after all...
Side note: I've seen one or two mentions on Rohl; he's simply not good enough, send him back and move on.
19 Posted 29/12/2025 at 00:10:36
Flamingo paid a £18M record fee and offloaded him at a loss to Everton after 6 months for a reported £12M. Glimpses of creativity wowed fans last season, but Moyes has never looked convinced and his signing may partly reflect inability to attract other targets.
This season, he has varied between bang average and poor. With no real squad depth, we probably need him short-term. He may prove me wrong but I don't see him as a long-term fixture.
20 Posted 30/12/2025 at 09:50:53
I thought it was time to let Rohl go but I was told by some on here that the transfer is binding and we have to sign whether he is good enough or not.
We make some strange transfer deals if that is true.
21 Posted 30/12/2025 at 10:34:48
Alcaraz has played for 4 clubs and didn't impress at any of them thats why he kept getting moved on. He has been given opportunities under Moyes but has failed to cement a place in the team. He gives the ball away far to easily and when he plays in the 10 role he just adds to our goal scoring problems. KDH playing in a similar role has scored 4 goals, which along with Ndaiye is our top scorer. I hope we bring Harrison Armstrong back from Preston, I thought he was as good as Rohl or Alcaraz. Dave like you when he first came he looked that he could be a good aquisition but the more he plays the less effective he has become.
22 Posted 30/12/2025 at 10:47:30
23 Posted 30/12/2025 at 12:00:41
Good call for Charly to play as a false 9...that would be interesting however l cant ever see it being implemented by Moyes
24 Posted 30/12/2025 at 12:09:28
25 Posted 30/12/2025 at 14:36:46
I think it will take more than 35 points this year. I can see any of the teams threatened by the third place going on a run. Wolves and Burnley look nailed on but the others are not too badly placed.
26 Posted 30/12/2025 at 17:45:26
With last Summer's out-going, we had to keep a few to make up the numbers.
Keane's extension turned out to be fortuitous.
Alcaraz's permanent signing hasn't turned out that way, so far. To me, it won't, either. He's just a roster spot.
27 Posted 03/01/2026 at 13:44:02
That is part of his area of authority, is it not? Or can we only improve the squad via the transfer market?
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1 Posted 29/12/2025 at 11:05:49
His final ball is atrocious, and it hardly ever finds a team-mate.