George back at Everton in permanent deal
Everton have concluded a deal with Chelsea to sign Tyrique George outright following his six-month loan spell with the club last season.
George was originally acquired on a temporary basis by the Blues on transfer deadline day in February, with a £25m purchase option included in the arrangement.
Despite being drafted in by David Moyes and Everton's transfer committee to help fill the void created by Jack Grealish's season-ending foot injury, George ended up making just one start while coming on as a substitute on a further 10 occasions.
Moyes's reluctance to use the talented England Under-21 winger down the run-in was criticised heavily by many supporters and it cast doubt on the likelihood the club would trigger the purchase option before it expired last week.
Everton, however, have re-negotiated a permanent deal that will see them pay around £18m up front for George, with another £6m dependent on appearances. Chelsea have also secured a 15% sell-on fee.
The player underwent a medical at Finch Farm and is expected to link back up with the Blues' first-team squad when they reconvene for pre-season training later this week.
“I’m so happy to sign for Everton," George told evertonfc.com. "I loved my time here on loan last season, so as soon as I knew it was a possibility to return, that's always what I wanted.
"This is a massive club. I've seen for myself how passionate the fans are about Everton, how much it means to them – and I want to put on good performances, score goals, and create goals to make them happy.
"The fans and the boys in the changing room made me feel welcome as soon as I arrived in February. It's a strong group that's only going to get better.
"I'm excited for what is ahead for us as a group and club.”
Additionally, Everton have confirmed the permanent acquisition of Merlin Röhl in what was reported to be a €20m deal with SC Freiburg.
The German midfielder joined the club last August on an initial loan move with an obligation to buy should the Toffees retain their place in the Premier League in 2025/26.
Reader Responses
Selected thoughts from readers05/07/2026 06:10:00
The BBC was originally reporting a 30mil fee which included add ons 24m upfront but I think they have updated their article to this figure.
Good deal for a talented prospect like George in the current climate when you got the likes of Gordon going for 70 mil.
05/07/2026 09:07:40
This is the way to go.But a development-led recruitment strategy depends on converting potential into evidence through first-team football. Without that evidence, the probability of generating significant transfer profits is reduced.
Why recruit development assets if the first-team environment isn't designed to develop them?
In the PSR /SCR era it is essential to di so ,to be competitive in the Premier League.
05/07/2026 09:13:26
Another excellent low cost deal. Recruitment obviously working very hard to find good value at low cost. Sensible approach given we need both quantity and quality again this summer as the rebuild continues
05/07/2026 10:30:05
Excellent stuff. A combined initial, outlay of around £34M for both Hackney and George represents good business in this day and age.
Both young, both clearly talented with sell-on value, should it come to that.
According to a friend I was talking to last night, who works in scouting for us, we were definitely in for Harry Wilson but he opted for Leeds. Unsure of the exact details but, obviously, it was probably down to money.
And I'm glad, as he's 29 and not what we should be paying big wages to. We all know what happened last time when we were stuck with players on massive salaries.
05/07/2026 11:21:50
I am pleased it has more or less been confirmed that George is on his way to us in a sensible deal. Well done to the recruitment people and now all it needs is Moyes to play him!
But Moyes is reported to be behind his arrival so everything should be okay or so they say. So it is wait and see but it might mean that we don't need to spend mega money on a Grealish loan.
He is good to watch but doesn't he slow things down.
05/07/2026 11:24:36
The transfer policy seems to be consistent over the last two Summers
05/07/2026 11:32:52
Lee (5) I would have been happy for the club to pay a top salary within the limits of our financial structure for a proven Premier League player like Wilson who scored ten goals and made seven assists last season. I totally agree we shouldn’t be paying large transfer fees for older players with no resale value.
05/07/2026 11:39:41
If Ndiaye goes (which is reasonably likely) then George will get games.
I suspect the likeliest outcome is that Grealish returns on loan and is first choice for the LW spot - with George offering a tactical option (ie running in behind) in that position.
I’d still quite like Fatawu for the RW is that is still an option. That would give us pace and variety in the final third - something haven’t had for years.
For those wondering whether Moyes will give him game time - it’s a fair point. But Moyes is only here for a season and George could be here 10 years.
05/07/2026 14:18:47
05/07/2026 14:18:47
Robert#9
That scenario is very likely.But you never know with Moyes, how he will set up and select, other than he is a preference for old pros and seems to ignore their errors, which seems to result in lack of minutes for young Professionals.
05/07/2026 14:29:34
I think George is a good acquisition, especially at that price.
We are building quite a large stock of midfielders and wide players at the moment. Currently we have Garner, Hackney, KDH, Iroegbunam, Rohl, Armstrong and Alcaraz for 3 central midfield positions. Wide we have George, Dibling, N’Diaye and McNeil. But it is an area I can still see lots of activity in the rest of the window.
I can definitely see Alcaraz and McNeil being offloaded but should we also cash in on Ireogbunam annd N’Diaye. Do Armstrong and, unless he shows a massive improvement pre-season, be sent out on loan? Should we bring Grealish and Gueye back? Is it worth chasing Bowen?
And then there is Right Back!
So a decent start but still a lot of changes to come
05/07/2026 15:03:32
Half of the Premier League seems to be exploring a deal for Bowen - and we are reported to be one of the interested clubs.
His current wages are £150k per week and he's contracted to West Ham until June 2030 (by which time he'll be 33).
So I expect he and his agents are looking to at least match or better that position - ideally with a club that currently has Champions League football or are likely to be contenders next season (i.e. any of the traditional Rich 6 plus Newcastle and Villa).
Given West Ham have just sold Matheus Fernandes for €99m, I expect they aren't under massive pressure to drop the asking price too low. Reports seem to suggest they want £55m which seems a fair enough amount.
The fee and wages would take a huge chunk out of an already limited kitty. So I expect it would only happen for us if no-one else bites and we could get him on an expensive loan (instead of Grealish). West Ham then get him back when they are promoted.
A better, but less sexy, deal might be for a player like Abdul Fatawu of Leicester. He's 22 years old, has played 100 games in English football, got 9 goals and 8 assists in 44 Championship appearances last season (in a poor side) and his wages are reported to be just £12,500 per week (although there are bonuses on top etc).
05/07/2026 20:23:17
Given how well English teams are doing in Europe, it may well be fairly easy to qualify for Europe. With this in mind I would agree with Robert that we don't need to spend big on players like Bowen or Grealish.
I think we were very competitive for a lot of last season. There's no reason ad to why we can't have a very decent top ten finish, and European qualification, with younger signings.
Reinvesting what would be a windfall for us, considering recent history around expired contracts. from the sale of players should still.be done sensibly.
06/07/2026 10:54:03
I think George could prove to be a very good signing for us, as long as Dour Dave gives him a decent run of games to prove himself and not just 20 minute cameos from the bench!! But that midfield area is starting to look quite promising…English lads still young or approaching what could be their primes.Armstrong, if he stays, Dewsbury-Hall, Garner, Hackney, Dibling, Rohl and now George.There’s the potential for something very decent to develop there, particularly if they’re joined by an “older” head such as Grealish or Bowen, although I can’t see us bringing them both in.And much as I like Jack, I’d probably prefer Bowen as he’s much more of a goal threat and can also play on either flank or through the middle.
But it looks very likely now that Alcaraz, Gueye, McNeill and possibly Irogbeunum may well have played their last games for us.As for N’Diyae, I think it’s 50-50 what happens.I’d love him to stay, but wouldn’t be surprised if he goes.
But the priorities now have surely got to be a proper right-back, and a striker with more quality than both Barry and Beto.Speaking of proper right-backs, would anyone take a punt on Wan-Bissaka? He’s not world-class but he IS a decent right back with vast Premier League experience who’s not going to need any sort of settling in period.He knows the league inside out, so can hit the ground running.And at 28, he’s hardly a veteran.Don’t forget that last year we tried to sign 29 year old Tete from Fulham.Obviously there’s been plenty of speculation linking Moyes with players from his relegated former club…Bowen, Soucek, even Sumerville.But the one player from West Ham that would actually make footballing sense for us, on paper at least, is probably Wan-Bissaka.
Thoughts folks??
06/07/2026 11:07:54
Wan Bissaka is an attractive option as you say David. But we’ve so far seen TfG fork very hard to find value in the market.
Wan Bissaka is currently on £120k per week wage and contracted to 2031 by which time he’ll be 33. We’d probably have to match that to sign him.
Compare that with, say, Rico Lewis who is on just £25k per week and is only 21.
One could be our right back for the next 10 years on a sensible wage. The other, less so.
If you want a team that could be a genuine champions league contender within 3 to 5 years and beyond - it’s no contest, you go for a player like Lewis.
06/07/2026 11:17:13
David, I would happily take both Bissaka and Bowen from West Ham. Like you I would prefer Bowen to Grealish. Whilst it was great having him for half a season, and I wouldn’t be unhappy if he comes back, I think Bowen is a better fit in our current squad.
Bissaka would be a big upgrade at right back and would also provide some cover at left back, especially as I can’t see where Aznou fits in at the moment.
West Ham are apparently interested in McNeil so we should definitely look at some deal involving him to offset the cost of Bissaka and/or Bowen
06/07/2026 12:37:26
That’s a good shout Robert, regarding Rico Lewis.Obviously far better long term value with a signing like that.And Wan-Bissaka’s wages could be problematic.But I’d definitely still rather see him at right-back on a weekly basis than O’Brien!! I like Jake, but he’s a centre-back and that’s where he should be played.I don’t believe Moyes was doing the lad any favours at all towards the end of last season, continually playing him when it was obvious to everyone he was struggling at times.I think it’s actually one of the reasons why quite a lot of fans who were undecided about Moyes’ future as our manager turned against him once the season ended, if not before.The O’Brien situation pretty much epitomised his stubbornness.
Getting back to Rico Lewis Robert, what’s the situation regarding his availability? Does he want to move on, or does he want to stay and prove himself to Maresca? Have you heard any rumours lol??!😊
06/07/2026 12:43:25
Yes I mention Rico Lewis because he is persistently linked. Also to a handful of other Prem Clubs like Sunderland, Forest and Fulham.
It’s also a sad part of the modern game that clubs like City are under huge pressure to sell home grown players like Lewis because it is such an accounting win when they do. That’s why it pays to have such a good academy. Even though these players are good enough, the pure profit return on sale is the real attraction.
06/07/2026 12:54:34
I think Wan-Bissaka is the number one choice but he still seems to be intent on keeping his high salary and West Ham seem intent on maintaining his transfer price (for now at least) which probably means that this is going to rumble on for some time with both parties (West Ham and Bissaka) hoping that someone else is going to come along and pay what is being asked.
I don't know much about the Man City lad but we were said to be very interested by Bellanova of Atalanta last week but it has gone quiet now. He is an attacking RB which Bissaka isn't but he had a hamstring problem last year. He is a much more affordable option than Bissaka but we would need to be sure that the hamstring problems was clear before anything happened there which may or may not be the case. Like I said it looks as though the RB, although he is much needed, is going to be a wait and see situation and we need to be have patience.
06/07/2026 13:12:28
I think we’ve now been linked fairly credibly with a dozen or so RBs since the January window. There are loads of options.
06/07/2026 16:43:52
Jerome yes there is consistency in the transfer policy, and in its effectiveness, or lack thereof. We have since last year signed, Alcaraz Dibling Aznou Barry Rohl George for around £130m, and none of them managed last year to get in the team with any sort of regularity, even when we effectively lost the last seven games.
We can't afford to keep going like this.
06/07/2026 18:33:53
Kebin#23
That is exactly the point I am making.It is not working football wise and it is not working financially.To bring in players at that rate on money, one at £40 milliona and gives them minutes only is reducing there value and could ultinating affect PS/SCR calculations.Another concern is Everton's Managers and Coaches ability to develop young players, which competitors have progressed at
Yes Kevin there could be a nasty latent cost to all this and progress could be out the window.
06/07/2026 18:50:04
Kevin, can’t entirely agree with your thoughts.
Barry played in every PL game last season, started 21 and sub in the other 17.
Rohl missed a large part of the season pre Christmas with hip and hernia injuries and while he did spend a lot of games on the bench after coming back he did make 6 starts, including the last 4, and came on 10 times.
George appeared in all, granted a couple were last minute, bar 2 of the games he could after joining, having only been in the Chelsea squad once in 3 months prior to joining us.
Alcaraz is a little different. In the first 12 months since joining he was quite heavily involved but since picking up an injury ar Christmas last year has had little involvement.
I agree we have seen little of Dibbling, although what I have seen leaves me dumbfounded that we could have spent £42m and he looks well behind George, and next to nothing of Aznou. Which makes me think Moyes has little confidence in either of them.
Another way of looking at it is who would they play instead of?
Barry has played more than Beto.
Would Rohl play ahead of Garner or Gueye?
Alcaraz ahead of KDH?
Dibbling or George ahead of N’Diaye or (when fit) Grealish? I do think they should be getting a look in ahead of McNeil
Can’t judge Aznou as I haven’t really seen him
The other youngster who has not been mentioned, he was only 22 last season, is Iroegbunam who did get significant opportunity last season covering Gueye
06/07/2026 20:02:53
I’m a bit confused because we are still using “Goodison” revenue to judge how free we are to spend??
Surely with the extra revenue through ticket hikes, sponsorship, other events, etc, our right to spend should be significantly higher? Wasn’t that the point?
Can anyone enlighten me please?
06/07/2026 22:06:03
John makes fair points, but I'd push back.
Barry: 21 starts, 8 goals, okay, not great for £27m. Rohl: injury explains it. George: long-term, but Moyes is only here a season.
Alcaraz: Injured at Christmas, but complete exile since? Not even on the bench. That's not fitness — that's Moyes not fancying him.
Dibling & Aznou: Johm's baffled by the £42m spent. Exactly. If Moyes doesn't trust them, why sign them?
The big one: Alcaraz ahead of KDH? On form, arguably yes — yet KDH keeps playing. George/Dibling ahead of McNeil? James agrees they should. So why aren't they?
Iroegbunam got chances — but he's the exception.
Bottom line: Individually explainable. Collectivel a pattern of signing young talent while a manager who favours experience won't play them. In a PSR world, that's costing millions.
06/07/2026 22:29:42
Chris I guess until we get the first set of financial results next March, I’m assuming we will not be releasing them any sooner although apparently they have to provide the accounts to the PL in October, we are all guessing what the extra income is and how SCR will work.
I guess the one thing we can fairly safely assume is TFG will be much more prudent with the finances than Moshiri
07/07/2026 08:01:46
Robert Tressell - 4 - Another excellent low cost deal. Recruitment obviously working very hard to find good value at low cost.
'Recruitment obviously working very hard'!!!!
Erm George and Rohl were exactly where in 2026 and 2025-2026 respectively? The recruiters must have hunted high and low for them.
07/07/2026 08:40:18
Sorry Paul - would they have been better value and lower cost if sourced from elsewhere?
And since they were at the club already, doesn’t that mean the recruitment team brought them in?
07/07/2026 09:09:00
I think the point Robert is obviously that if this is evidence of our crack recruitment team 'working very hard' then if 'working very hard' means signing players who 1. we had an obligation to buy and 2. already on loan - and you mean retrospectively 'working very hard' now not 12 or 6 months ago - then this is hardly hard working recruitment.
Surely that's not too hard to understand?
07/07/2026 09:16:20
We if you want current action - then I think it’s encouraging to see the recruitment team renegotiate the option on George so it’s a lower cost deal.
And the Hackney deal is also very low cost for a good player courted by a good number of other clubs.
I know popular opinion is that the recruitment team is rubbish etc but presumably there’s room for some different perspectives?
07/07/2026 09:26:00
My post 30 remains solid and correct Robert but I absolutely agree that 'different perspectives' are crucial even though my post was not meant to be an overall assessment of our recruiters so far.
We have no idea of what is available to them but so far, with 9 weeks to go and three deals done, for 'hard work' a quiet C. No real searching; no real research; no real digging; no real globetrotting; no real inspiration; no real innovation or invention.
Let's see what happens Robert before you can legitimately heap praise on the erm 'hard work' of our recruiters.
Let's hope it works out.
07/07/2026 09:49:14
I am satisfied that these three are excellent low cost deals Paul. It’d be hard to get better value / quality than these three for the money paid.
I am also satisfied that it’s more deals than most Premier League clubs (with only Spurs and Brighton being particularly active so far).
As to hard work, fair enough - neither you nor I know how hard they are working.
07/07/2026 10:02:05
The point Robert is surely that two of them were in our fold already. We need brave new bold recruitment in areas we might not have been which is hardly asking for the world given that our costly assembled recruiters with their new data systems expensively bought ought to be giving us genuine new finds.
Hackney, George, Rohl, erm big fat no, but I agree that each one is decent.
FFS Robert you could probably give these ridiculously paid suits a helping hand.
07/07/2026 11:04:12
We're no Tottenham this window so far are we...steady would be the word or boring maybe? But the business we have done is sensible and makes the squad younger. Still time for a few rabbits out the hat and that must surely include at least 1 LB and 1 RB - if not then the recruitment and finance people have failed IMHO.
07/07/2026 12:00:01
Rohl made Permanent.
The 2024/25 accounts showed improvement, but I think it's still too early to say the football model is genuinely sustainable. Until we see the 2025/26 accounts, and the impact of the new stadium, commercial revenue and SCR, we're still dealing with incomplete information.
TFG are clearly likely to be more financially disciplined than Moshiri. My question is whether the football strategy is equally disciplined. If Everton recruit young players with resale potential but don't develop them, increased revenues alone may not create the long-term value the club needs.
I'm also curious where the reported £100m transfer budget actually comes from.
07/07/2026 13:24:17
We’re no Spurs in terms of the spending, no, Benjamin. They are really going for it - but we also know one or two of the Rich 6 / 8 typically falter badly so let’s see who it is this season.
I know a lot of posters cannot muster any enthusiasm while Moyes is at the helm (maybe Kinnear too) but once the window closes I expect the squad will be bigger and better than last season and better placed to play decent football too.
We’re not going to win the title and we’re probably not going to make the Champions League places either. But if recruitment unfolds well we’ve a good chance of making Europe and who knows with the cups?!
07/07/2026 15:07:44
Jerome, player trading is key for us in terms of increasing revenue streams. We're nowhere near City, Arsenal or the RS in terms of commanding sponsorship deals, commercial deals, t.v and CL revenue streams. For now, making decent profits on players is the best way to make the financial leap forward we need.
An improved squad also means consistently better league finishes. An extra 10-20m per year in league placing does add up.
The rest will follow. But only if we 8mprove what we have the power to do now.
Jerome, the 100m figure does seem high for us, even with the new owners. I wonder is it reliant on a player sales, I.e Ndiaye, Tim, or fringe players like Alca4az and Patterson.
07/07/2026 17:02:35
don't get me wrong Robert I think it's great that your optimistic about the new season. I just can't see it at the moment. I think we need a whole new back four, and a new quality striker. I also think both wingers we relied on last year won't be here. that's a heck of a rebuild we need.
I also think we're bought a load of players the manager won't play much. it's going to be fascinating how much time George Rohl and Hackney get this year. Let alone Dibling and Aznou.
07/07/2026 17:14:13
Hi John
yes fair enough some of them did get a fair amount of game time. I don't think any of them convinced though, and some of them were sent to Coventry.
I just have concerns we have two different agendas here, and that is a disaster. We've seen how it plays out previously with different people signing different players for the team. I want people who know what they are doing bringing in the players, not oeople who Angus thinks are 'world class' cos they used to work at Man City in the canteen.
08/07/2026 04:43:06
You're right on strategy, John but the execution is killing the cycle. That £120m outlay last Summer was funded by sales like Gordon etc, but the return has been disastrous—Dibling and Alcaraz alone have lost over £20m in value between them. To cover that hole, you'd have to sell your only appreciating assets like Ndiaye or Tim,to have 1l which isn't a financial leap forward, it's PSR survival mode.
Meanwhile, benching that much talent doesn't earn you the extra league points or prize money you need, because Moyes leans on short-term veterans with no resale value. So you have two clear paths: either sell Ndiaye and Tim now to bank pure profit and let Moyes buy established players he'll actually use, or mandate that at least one project player starts every game to protect their value. Half-measures just keep burning cash. Which one gets you that financial leap faster?
Kevin, John, is absolutely spot-on about the why—player trading is the only realistic lever for Everton right now. You can't out-commercial the big six overnight, and that extra £10-20m per league spot is real money.
It is the correct strategy to buy young players with potential and up to Moyes and Finch Farm to get then match ready and give them minutes, turning into points to progress up the table.Moyes has a big say in recruitment, but needs to update this coming season into the new PSR/SCR era.
08/07/2026 17:48:13
Today's rumour mill seems to link us (again) to Malick Diouf of West Ham and Lucas Herrington of Colorado Rapids. It's probably too much to hope but I'd love these players at Everton. Diouf is to my mind the ideal modern day full-back - fast, fit and capable of dominating the entire flank. He was also arguably the best crosser of a ball in the Premier League last season. Although he's still learning his trade as a defender, I thought he showed discipline against the French for Senegal in the World Cup. Centre Back Herrington has also had a good World Cup - no mean feat for an 18 year old. Now, I would never suggest it's a good idea to scout players at a World Cup (it isn't) - but it's still interesting to see how they got on. Both are courted heavily and not just by us, but fingers crossed.
10/07/2026 08:23:13
Very pleased he has signed.
I doubt he came knowing he was back-up to Grealish.
So as much as JG was loved and became a talisman last year, I would be surprised if he returns, unless the deal is VERY cheap, which seems unlikely.
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05/07/2026 05:23:44
Good piece of early business. Welcome o Everton young man.