So the Farhad Moshiri era at Everton has finally drawn to a close.
After eight years of reckless spending, sacking after sacking, points deductions, scandals, boardroom drama and financial uncertainty, the Iranian departs with his wallet considerably lighter and his reputation irrevocably lower. Well, at least it hasn’t been boring.
Moshiri, who is being replaced by US investors The Friedkin Group, signed almost 70 players during his tenure — some of whom he handpicked personally — spending over £670million in the process.
And that’s despite his pursestrings tightening considerably in the last three years, as Everton battled in vain to comply with Premier League profit and sustainability rules.
How many of those players were expensive own goals, and how many were surprising successes? Was Moshiri as bad as everyone says, or did he have an eye for a bargain in the transfer market?
Here, Mail Sport runs the rule over every player the businessman signed for the club, with the caveat that they must have played a first-team game…
Mail Sport has rated every Everton signing under Farhad Moshiri as his tenure draws to a close
A total of 68 signings were made during his eight years at the helm, with several proving flops
Fans protest their anger towards Moshiri ahead of Everton’s clash with Brentford in 2023
Maarten Stekelenburg (from Fulham, fee £850,000)
The first signing of the Moshiri era was handpicked by the first managerial appointment of the Moshiri era, Ronald Koeman, Stekelenburg’s boss at Southampton.
His erratic form meant his time as Everton’s No 1 was short lived, despite saving two penalties in one game away to Manchester City.
Verdict: Mixed
Idrissa Gueye (from Aston Villa, £7.1million)
One of the best signings of the Moshiri era was also one of his first. Gueye arrived with little fanfare from relegated Aston Villa but the industrious midfielder quickly cemented himself as a fan favourite.
He was Everton’s player of the season in his final campaign, banked the club a healthy profit when he was sold to Paris Saint-Germain, and left such a hole that he had to be replaced by… himself, three years later.
Verdict: Hit
Ashley Williams (from Swansea, £9million)
Hopes were high for the Swansea and Wales skipper, fresh from inspiring his country to the semi-final of Euro 2016. But a promising start to his time on Merseyside wasn’t to last and the sight of Williams performatively covering his face with his shirt after conceding an avoidable goal became one of the defining images of the Moshiri era.
Verdict: Miss
Maarten Stekelenburg was the first signing of the Moshiri era, arriving for a fee of £850,000
Ashley Williams proved a huge miss after his arrival from Swansea, despite hopes being high
Yannick Bolasie (from Crystal Palace, £22.5million)
Hit the ground running and formed a strong bond with his fellow Lingala-speaker Romelu Lukaku on and off the pitch. But his career was derailed by an ACL injury midway through his first season, from which he never truly recovered.
Verdict: Miss
Enner Valencia (from West Ham, loan)
Looked a panicked deadline-day loan signing but proved a decent enough addition.
Attracted headlines for the wrong reasons as he was forced to escape the pitch on a buggy during an Ecuador game, allegedly to avoid authorities chasing him over unpaid child support.
Verdict: Mixed
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (from Sheffield United, £1.5million)
A rare bargain in Moshiri’s tenure. The striker has gone from boy to man at Goodison, enjoying a particularly productive 18 months under Carlo Ancelotti which saw him make England’s squad for Euro 2020.
Injuries have held him back in more recent times, though he popped up with arguably the most important priceless goal in Everton’s modern history – the winner in their dramatic comeback over Crystal Palace in 2022.
Verdict: Hit
Enner Valencia (right, with club legend Leighton Baines) proved a decent addition at Goodison
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is still a crucial player at Everton despite injuries blighting his career
Ademola Lookman (from Charlton, £7.5million)
Announced himself in some fashion, scoring on his debut in a 4-0 win over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Few Evertonians would have believed you if you’d told them then that it would be his only Premier League goal for the club.
Clearly talented but had a strained relationship with successive managers and eventually left for RB Leipzig. Now flourishing at Atalanta.
Verdict: Mixed
Morgan Schneiderlin (from Manchester United, £20million)
Another who started in style but couldn’t back it up. Excelled for his first five months but appeared to become disillusioned by the sacking of Koeman and rumours of a poor attitude swirled.
Became an expensive millstone around the club’s neck, and had retired by the age of 34. A shame for a player who looked superb at Southampton and in his early Everton career.
Verdict: Miss
Davy Klaassen (from Ajax, £23.6million)
The first of four No 10s signed in Moshiri’s biggest summer splurge, and the worst of them. Came with a big reputation from Ajax but hardly played a minute in his sole season in England and was sold for a massive loss. Not without ability – as his record for the Netherlands proves – but very ill-suited to English football.
Verdict: Miss
Morgan Schneiderlin arrived from Man United for £20million and proved a disappointment
Meanwhile, Davy Klaassen hardly played a minute at Everton and was sold for a massive loss
Jordan Pickford (from Sunderland, £25million)
Four times Everton’s Player of the Season, they almost certainly would have been relegated without his heroics in the past three years.
Had a rocky spell early on in his time on Merseyside but has been exceptional since. Has picked up all 73 of his England caps as an Everton player – a club record – and shown tremendous loyalty to the Toffees.
Verdict: Hit
Michael Keane (from Burnley, £25million)
A hard player to assess as his Everton career has been marked by season-long highs and myriad catastrophic lows.
His form has often been dependent on the partner next to him at centre back.
Verdict: Mixed
Sandro Ramirez (from Malaga, £5.2million)
An unmitigated flop. A striker who scored one goal for the club – and it was in a 5-1 home loss to Atalanta.
Remarkable to think Everton fought off Atletico Madrid for his signature. At least he was cheap – though his wages were apparently anything but.
Verdict: Miss
Jordan Pickford has been a superb signing and will be viewed as a club great in years to come
Striker Sandro Ramirez, who arrived from Malaga for £5.2m, was simply an unmitigated flop
Wayne Rooney (from Manchester United, free)
An emotional homecoming which brought plenty of highlights: a winner on his debut, a landmark goal away to Manchester City, a brilliant hat-trick against West Ham.
One of the bright spots in a miserable season which ended with Rooney as top-scorer despite playing as a midfielder from December. His class shone through even as his body began to fail him.
Verdict: Hit
Cuco Martina (from Southampton, free)
Everton signed Martina as a free agent to provide cover for the injured Seamus Coleman yet they still overpaid for him.
Had been a fringe player at Southampton and had no business playing for a club of Everton’s standing at that time. Looked badly out of his depth and was exiled on loan to Championship Stoke the following season.
Verdict: Miss
Gylfi Sigurdsson (from Swansea, £40million)
Managed a respectable total of goals and assists – 42, across four seasons – but never quite lived up to his eye-watering price tag and left on a free.
Verdict: Mixed
Wayne Rooney’s emotional Everton homecoming brought plenty of highlights for Toffees fans
Former Southampton right-back Cuco Martina, however, looked out of his depth at Everton
Nikola Vlasic (from Hajduk Split, £8million)
Appeared to be signed because he played well in a Europa League play-off against the Toffees. It made sense in fairness – they’d only bought three No 10s already that summer.
Showed early promise but made just a dozen appearances in the league before being shipped off to CSKA Moscow.
Verdict: Miss
Cenk Tosun (from Besiktas, £27.5million)
The first of two expensive January purchases Moshiri inexplicably sanctioned at the request of Sam Allardyce, even though he was always likely to leave four months later.
The striker scored four Premier League goals in four years at the club after Allardyce’s departure.
Verdict: Miss
Theo Walcott (from Arsenal, £20million)
An exciting addition who made an instant impact but his best days were already behind him on his arrival aged 28. Another major investment the club received no financial return on.
Verdict: Miss
Cenk Tosun scored four league goals in four years at the club after Sam Allardyce’s departure
Theo Walcott was another major investment which the club received no financial return on
Eliaquim Mangala (from Manchester City, loan)
Played in two Everton games – a 5-1 loss away to Arsenal, then he was forced off at half-time against Crystal Palace with injury the following week. Never to be seen again.
Verdict: Miss
Richarlison (from Watford, £40million)
New director of football Marcel Brands’ first signing was seen as a high-stakes gamble, but it paid off handsomely.
Richarlison hit double figures for goals in all of his four seasons, played through injury to keep Everton in the Premier League in 2021-22 and earned the club a desperately needed £60m windfall when he moved to Spurs. Still an incredibly popular figure with supporters.
Verdict: Hit
Lucas Digne (from Barcelona, £18million)
Had tough shoes to fill in effectively replacing Leighton Baines, one of the finest left backs in the Premier League era, but made a good job of it.
Averaged six assists a season before he was sold in farcical circumstances after falling out with the soon-to-be-sacked Rafa Benitez.
Verdict: Hit
Sold for £60m to Tottenham, Richarlison was a high stakes gamble which paid off handsomely
Lucas Digne is another who thrived at Goodison – and now he is performing well at Aston Villa
Joao Virginia (from Arsenal, undisclosed)
A cheap back-up goalkeeper who is still at the club, and has broadly impressed on his few appearances in the last couple of seasons.
Verdict: Hit
Bernard (from Shakhtar Donetsk, free)
Had long been targeted by some of Europe’s elite clubs so looked a fantastic addition on a free, albeit on high wages.
Didn’t quite live up to the hype though, despite being a gifted and surprisingly tenacious player.
Verdict: Mixed
Yerry Mina (from Barcelona, £27.2million)
A superb defender when fit, though those days were all too infrequent. Ultimately justified the time and money spent on him by stepping up to the plate in the club’s two near-misses with relegation. They would have been in the Championship without him.
Verdict: Hit
Dependable Joao Virginia has broadly impressed as a cheap, back-up goalkeeper at Everton
The Toffees would likely have been relegated years ago without Yerry Mina at centre half
Andre Gomes (from Barcelona, loan)
The third and final addition from Barcelona in the space of a few weeks — when that status carried more cachet than it does now.
Quickly won over fans with his elegant displays in midfield in the first half of the season.
Verdict: Hit
Kurt Zouma (from Chelsea, loan)
A worthy finale for by far the most successful summer transfer window of the Moshiri era. Solid as a rock at centre back and seemed to draw out much better performances from Keane next to him, too.
Boss Marco Silva was desperate to sign him permanently but a deal couldn’t be done — and Silva was sacked a few months later.
Verdict: Hit
Andre Gomes (from Barcelona, £22million)
Joined permanently after his loan but this move didn’t work out. Wasn’t playing particularly well before his horror injury courtesy of Son Heung-min, and took years to recover any semblance of form afterwards. Did at least contribute in some cameos last season, before leaving on a free.
Verdict: Miss
Andre Gomes was a great addition on loan but his career derailed after signing permanently
Everton were keen to sign Kurt Zouma permanently after his impressive loan spell at Goodison
Fabian Delph (from Manchester City, £10million)
Signed, with the man below, to replace the departing Gueye but couldn’t live up to his predecessor. Struggled incessantly with injury and made the inadvisable decision to argue with fans on social media.
Actually played very well in some games during the run-in under Frank Lampard, but overall an expensive mistake.
Verdict: Miss
Jean-Philippe Gbamin (from Mainz, £25million)
One of the least recognisable names in Premier League history, for a player who commanded that transfer fee. Made six top-flight appearances for the club over four years – each costing more than £4m, wages excluded. Had horrendous luck, in fairness.
Suffered a freak thigh injury that would keep him out for nine months in his second game. Then ruptured his achilles playing foot tennis. Then did his knee in training. You get the picture.
Verdict: Miss
Moise Kean (from Juventus, £25.1million)
A statement signing that was all talk and no action. Scored just two league goals – and got more attention for his off-field antics – in his sole season at the club. Still only 24, he’s now rebuilding his career successfully at Fiorentina after a torrid few years.
Verdict: Miss
Fabian Delph, who arrived from Man City for £10m, will go down as another expensive mistake
Injury-prone Jean-Philippe Gbamin made just six top flight appearances across four years
Djibril Sidibe (from Monaco, loan)
A loan stint most memorable for the look of bemusement on Ancelotti’s face when the French World Cup winner forgot to put a sock on while readying himself to come on as a substitute. Decent going forward, less so defensively.
Verdict: Mixed
Alex Iwobi (from Arsenal, £28million)
For a time he would have been one of the biggest flops on this list, but Iwobi turned his Everton career around in style.
After a tough few years, he reinvented himself under Lampard, initially as a wing-back, and proved a key figure in their two survival seasons. Great to see him flourishing at Fulham.
Verdict: Hit
Jarrad Branthwaite (from Carlisle, £1million)
Will bank the club a huge profit when he is sold, most likely next summer.
A tall, quick and classy defender who will play a great deal for England, fitness permitting. A huge talent.
Verdict: Hit
After a few tough years, Alex Iwobi reinvented himself at Everton and is now thriving at Fulham
The Toffees are set to make a sizeable profit from Jarrad Branthwaite when they sell him
Niels Nkounkou (from Marseille, free)
The full back impressed in outings in the Carabao Cup but hardly featured in the Premier League.
Successive managers seemed to doubt his defensive capabilities. Sold cheaply, back to his native France.
Verdict: Mixed
Allan (from Napoli, £21.7million)
It’s a shame he wasn’t signed a few years earlier — the Brazil international was a fine midfielder in his prime.
Followed Ancelotti from Napoli and started very well but at 29 his legs were already starting to go. A good player, but an expensive signing with no resale value.
Verdict: Mixed
James Rodriguez (from Real Madrid, free)
OK, it probably wasn’t ‘sensible’ business, but who cares? For a brief few months — that feel like a few decades ago — Everton were the most exciting team in England and it was in large part thanks to James Rodriguez.
So what if his wages were astronomical — his ability was out of this world. The Colombian’s technical ability was clear for all to see, it’s just a tragedy that Evertonians weren’t in stadiums to witness it thanks to Covid.
Verdict: Hit
Allan was a brilliant player but did not quite have age on his side after moving to Merseyside
James Rodriguez was not ‘sensible’ business but made Everton one of the most exciting teams
Abdoulaye Doucoure (from Watford, £20million)
Scorer of an essential, and quite brilliant, winner against Bournemouth on the final day in 2023.
That capped a remarkable half-season for the midfielder, who flourished under Sean Dyche after being ostracised under Lampard. Has otherwise been a solid campaigner.
Verdict: Hit
Ben Godfrey (from Norwich, £20million)
Looked like he was worth every penny in a debut season that saw him make Gareth Southgate’s provisional squad for Euro 2020.
It was all downhill from there though, with illness, injury and a failure to nail down a regular position meaning the club were happy to sell him at a loss to Atalanta in the summer. That move isn’t working out, either.
Verdict: Miss
Robin Olsen (from Roma, loan)
His biggest legacy is the impact he had on another player — his brief deposition of Pickford as No 1 seemed to jolt the Englishman back into form. Impressed in his handful of appearances.
Verdict: Hit
Ben Godfrey arrived with plenty of promise but ultimately proved a real disappointment
Abdoulaye Doucoure scored Everton’s winner on the final day against Bournemouth in 2023
Josh King (from Bournemouth, nominal)
Managed 10 goals and assists in nine games against Everton for Bournemouth. Scored zero goals as an Everton player.
Then scored a hat-trick on his first return to Goodison, with Watford.
Verdict: Miss
Andros Townsend (from Crystal Palace, free)
Benitez’s first signing, and a player he had worked with before at Newcastle.
A decent addition on a free, who started brightly but sadly suffered a dreadful ACL injury and was forced to spend his second season sat on the sidelines.
Verdict: Hit
Asmir Begovic (from Bournemouth, free)
Another shrewd austerity-era signing. A solid No 2 goalkeeper and well-liked figure in the dressing room, who returned to the club this summer after a year at QPR.
Verdict: Hit
Josh King made a habit of netting against Everton despite failing to score as a Toffees player
Veteran goalkeeper Asmir Begovic proved another shrewd austerity-era signing for Everton
Demarai Gray (from Bayer Leverkusen, £1.7million)
A deeply frustrating player, but one who was worth signing at this price.
Hit the ground running on arrival and though his form faded, he was sold for over four times as much as he was bought for. Likely to make the next World Cup with Steve McClaren’s Jamaica.
Verdict: Hit
Salomon Rondon (from Dalian Professional, free)
Not worth signing, even at this price. A perfectly good target man in his pomp, the Venezuelan was well past his best by the time he rocked up at Goodison. Managed as many red cards (one) as he did Premier League goals for Everton.
Became a target for boo boys for his association with Benitez, too. To his credit, still playing — and scoring — for Pachuca in Mexico.
Verdict: Miss
Vitalii Mykolenko (from Dynamo Kyiv, £17million)
A more-expensive replacement for a better player, but has had some good moments. Ultimately very limited technically though, and still yet to register a Premier League assist almost three years after joining.
Verdict: Mixed
Salomon Rondon was not worth signing, having accrued as many red cards as goals at Everton
Vitalii Mykolenko is still Everton’s first choice left back but hasn’t assisted in nearly three years
Nathan Patterson (from Rangers, £12million)
The right back came with a promising reputation but has struggled consistently with injury, and looked vulnerable defensively when he has played.
Should be nearing his prime at 23 but looks further away from the team than ever. Another expensive misfire.
Verdict: Miss
Anwar El Ghazi (from Aston Villa, loan)
A truly bizarre signing, seemingly made by Moshiri to appease a friendly agent. Never looked likely to play much, and didn’t – making 11 minutes’ worth of appearances. Still, good to pay his wages for five months.
Made the news recently after he was sacked by Mainz over his pro-Palestine comments, and now at Cardiff.
Verdict: Miss
Donny van de Beek (from Manchester United, loan)
Looked like the player Manchester United thought they were getting from Ajax in his early appearances in a blue shirt, then barely played again thanks to injury. His track record since suggests those performances might have been a false dawn anyway.
Verdict: Mixed
Nathan Patterson should be near his prime at 23 but is further away from the team than ever
Donny van de Beek did better at Everton than he did at United, but never set the world alight
Dele Alli (from Tottenham, free)
Helped turn that famous game against Palace in Everton’s favour, but that’s about it. This transfer was always doomed to fail because of its terms — cash-strapped Everton would have had to pay Spurs £10m after his first 20 appearances.
Is all but retired aged 28 having not played for almost two years, but has spoken bravely about his issues with addiction and his mental health in that time.
Verdict: Miss
James Tarkowski (from Burnley, free)
His best ability is availability — he’s still yet to miss a Premier League game since signing in the summer of 2022.
Has struggled at times this season but overall has been a good pick-up on a free. A likeable character and a good defender on his day.
Verdict: Hit
Dwight McNeil (from Burnley, £15million)
Another addition from Burnley, and the hiring of his former Clarets boss Dyche helped turn his Everton career around.
Had an ineffective first five months under Lampard but has arguably been their best attacking player since that managerial switch. A touch inconsistent, but a consistently classy left foot.
Verdict: Hit
Former Tottenham superstar Dele Alli is all but retired having not played for almost two years
Dwight McNeil has been an important player since the arrival of Sean Dyche at Goodison Park
Ruben Vinagre (from Sporting, loan)
Signed to play as a wing-back in a back-five, a formation which Lampard ditched early on in the season.
Barely played a minute thereafter, and now plying his trade in Poland after half-a-season in the Championship with Hull.
Verdict: Miss
Conor Coady (from Wolves, loan)
Could have faced a fan backlash given his Liverpool connections but his warm personality swiftly won supporters over.
Did OK despite a chronic lack of pace — I suspect his footrace with a 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo at Goodison might still be going on — but fell out of favour under Dyche.
Verdict: Mixed
Amadou Onana (from Lille, £30million)
A rare signing of ambition in the club’s PSR-angst era. But one that paid off, as he gave two years’ decent service and was sold for a handsome profit to Aston Villa. Should have a bright future in the game.
Verdict: Hit
Despite his Liverpool connections, Conor Coady won Everton fans over with his warm manner
The ambitious signing of Amadou Onana paid off, given he was sold for a handsome profit
Neal Maupay (from Brighton, £12million)
Has posted more gratuitously offensive tweets about the club since his exit than he managed goals for it (one).
The forward’s bark is worse than his bite — though in his defence he was ill-suited to the job he was signed for. Always more of a second striker than an old fashioned No 9, he was rarely used as one. That’s no excuse for his woeful finishing, mind you.
Verdict: Miss
James Garner (from Manchester United, £9million)
A tidy, if slightly unremarkable, midfielder. Versatile (he played as a right back in England Under 21s’ Euros win), hard-working and technically sound.
If they sold him tomorrow, it would be for a profit.
Verdict: Hit
Idrissa Gueye (from PSG, £2million)
Hasn’t quite hit the heights that he did in his first spell, but that’s understandable given his age.
He’s arguably still the club’s best midfielder at 35.
Verdict: Hit
Neal Maupay struggled for goals at Everton and has publicly hit out at the club since leaving
Everton’s 35-year-old veteran Idrissa Gueye is still arguably the club’s best midfielder
Ashley Young (from Aston Villa, free)
Attracted some ire from fans for his rash performances last season but has been much improved this year.
His enduring physicality at the age of 39 is seriously impressive – what a career he’s had.
Verdict: Mixed
Arnaut Danjuma (from Villarreal, loan)
A long-term target of director of football Kevin Thelwell, Everton signed Danjuma at the second attempt after he walked out of a deal at the 11th hour to move to Spurs instead the previous January.
A talented winger, but his quirky personality seemed a bad fit with Dyche, and he’s now rubbing up against Michel at Girona too.
Verdict: Miss
Youssef Chermiti (from Sporting, £10.7million)
Signed out of nowhere, and not a name most Evertonians would have been familiar with beforehand. Has shown glimpses of ability in cameos – but the 20-year-old striker hasn’t kicked a ball this season due to injury.
Might be one to look out for in the future.
Verdict: Mixed
Ashley Young’s enduring physicality in the full-back role at the age of 39 is very impressive
Arnaut Danjuma’s quirky personality seemed a bad fit with Dyche, despite his raw talent
Jack Harrison (from Leeds, loan)
Everton fought off interest from Villa to nab Harrison on a cost-effective loan, thanks to a clause in his Leeds contract.
Made a good start and works tremendously hard but his headline numbers are poor. Joined on loan again this summer but has had less of an impact second time around.
Verdict: Mixed
Beto (from Udinese, £21.5million)
The fee looks big but Everton had to get creative in their search for a striker, given their inability to pay much of the cost up front. Got fans excited with a game-changing debut against Doncaster, but hasn’t been as impressive against non-League Two opposition.
Does have a goal in him, but his hold-up play isn’t good enough for a team with Everton’s direct style. Looks likely to return to Italy before long, possibly even to Friedkin-owned Roma.
Verdict: Miss
Tim Iroegbunam (from Aston Villa, £9million)
Signed in a PSR-friendly effective swap deal with Lewis Dobbin going the other way, and you’d say Everton got the better half of that deal.
Thrust into the team at the beginning of the season due to injury, the 21-year-old showed bravery and ability but also a rawness out of possession. Hasn’t played for months because of a foot issue.
Verdict: Mixed
Everton fought off interest from Aston Villa to nab Jack Harrison on a cost-effective loan move
Frankly, Beto’s goal tally and general play has not been worth the £21.5m Everton paid for him
Iliman Ndiaye (from Marseille, £15million)
Another long-term Thelwell target, though appears to be more of a grafter than Danjuma. Has been a rare bright spot this season, and certainly got bags of talent, though he will hope his goals and assists numbers improve with time.
Could be a fan favourite for years to come.
Verdict: Hit
Jesper Lindstrom (from Napoli, loan)
Was worth a gamble on loan based on his performances with Eintracht Frankfurt a few years ago, but has carried his indifferent form at Napoli into this campaign.
Looks lightweight and low on confidence — though there’s still time to turn things around.
Verdict: Miss
Jake O’Brien (from Lyon, £16million)
It’s very early days so the Irishman may well prove a hit in time but he’s barely played a minute despite Branthwaite missing most of this season with injury.
Everton aren’t in a position to spend £16m on a fourth-choice centre back, even with a low down payment.
Verdict: Miss
Iliman Ndiaye could be an Everton favourite in years to come having already won over the fans
It’s very early days for Jake O’Brien but the defender has hardly played a minute for Everton
Orel Mangala (from Lyon, loan)
Has been consistent in his Everton career so far and the midfield always looks more balanced for his presence.
Unlikely to set the world alight, but the clamour to sign him permanently will grow if he keeps up his current form.
Verdict: Hit
Armando Broja (from Chelsea, loan)
Has been bright in recent cameos but only just returned from injury, so it’s too soon for a verdict either way.
Like Everton in the post-Moshiri era, we’re about to find out what lies in store…
Verdict: Mixed
