Everton Transfer Window Disaster Leaves Club Worse Off After Iliman Ndiaye Sale and Failed Folarin Balogun Move

Everton have ended the summer transfer window with their attacking options reduced after selling Iliman Ndiaye and Beto and failing to complete a late move for Folarin Balogun.

Ndiaye joined Manchester City in a deal worth £60m plus £5m in potential add-ons, while Beto completed a £15.5m move to Fiorentina. Everton then agreed a proposed £40m deal for Monaco striker Balogun, only for the transfer to collapse shortly before the 11pm deadline after the forward decided against joining.

The result leaves Thierno Barry as Everton's only recognised senior striker despite manager David Moyes having said his squad still needed strengthening. The club did add several players, including Jack Grealish on another season-long loan, but ended the window without a replacement for either departing forward.

Ndiaye Sale and Balogun Deal Collapse

Ndiaye's departure removed an important attacking option from Moyes's squad. The Senegal international had become a regular contributor for Everton before completing his move to Manchester City, with the transfer providing funds for further recruitment.

Everton turned to Balogun as a replacement and agreed a £40m deal with Monaco. Concerns emerged during the striker's medical, prompting the clubs to renegotiate the structure of the transfer. The revised agreement included a lower initial payment and more appearance-related add-ons.

A deal sheet was submitted before the deadline, but Balogun ultimately decided against completing the move. Monaco chief executive Thiago Scuro later claimed the striker was uncomfortable with how the medical concerns had been handled, although that account has not been independently established.

The collapse came after Everton had already sanctioned Beto's move to Fiorentina. The club also explored loan deals for Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee and Aston Villa's Tammy Abraham, but neither proposal was accepted.

Moyes had previously said he wanted further additions. After Everton's Carabao Cup victory over Preston, he said: 'I still think we are short in the squad and I still think we are short in quality in some places.'

Grealish Adds Creativity

Grealish's return gives Everton an established creative option after his first season at the Hill Dickinson Stadium was cut short by a fractured foot in February.

The 30-year-old has returned from Manchester City on another season-long loan and is expected to provide width and creativity for Moyes. Grealish said: 'I'm at my best when I feel loved. That's what the manager, my teammates, and the fans have given me. I feel ready to go.'

Everton also completed permanent deals for Tyrique George, Merlin Röhl, Hayden Hackney and Christian Nørgaard, while Brennan Johnson arrived as part of a swap deal. Ainsley Maitland-Niles joined from Lyon for a reported £4.2m on a three-year contract after Everton's proposed move for Fulham right-back Kenny Tete failed to materialise.

Armstrong Decision Adds to Window

Everton also decided to retain academy graduate Harrison Armstrong after reaching an advanced stage of talks with Nottingham Forest over a reported £40m transfer. The Friedkin Group ultimately opted against completing the sale following strong reaction from sections of the Everton fanbase.

While the club strengthened several areas of the squad, its late attacking business ended without another senior striker. With Ndiaye and Beto gone and Balogun's move abandoned, Barry now carries the main centre-forward responsibility for Moyes as Everton begin the new campaign.