The dream XI Everton could build

Everton have not finished in the top-half of the Premier League table since they finished tenth in the 2020/21 campaign, having finished 13th or lower in each of the past five seasons.

The last time they played in a European competition was when they finished third in their Europa League group and were eliminated in the 2017/18 campaign.

David Moyes‘ aim for the 2026/27 season should be to push towards the European spots to finally bring the Toffees back to the continental stage, and he will have to make several new signings in order to do that.

The goalkeeper and defence

It goes without saying that England number one Jordan Pickford will continue to be the first-choice between the sticks for the Toffees, as he has been since he signed from Sunderland in 2017.

At right-back, Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been linked with a £20m move to the Hill Dickinson after West Ham United’s relegation to the Championship, which would provide the club with a natural right-back option instead of Jake O’Brien filling in.

After James Tarkowski made a whopping nine errors that led to shots, goals, or penalties in the Premier League last term, Moyes may want a better experienced centre-back on the books.

Everton have been touted with a move to re-sign England international John Stones on a free transfer after his contract with Manchester City expired.

He would return with six Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, and 91 caps for England under his belt, whilst still having plenty left to give at the age of 32.

These two additions, costing a combined £20m, could leave Moyes with a starting back five of Pickford, Wan-Bissaka, Stones, Branthwaite, and Vitaliy Mykolenko.

The midfield

Viewing the midfield as the double pivot and the number ten in a 4-2-3-1 system, there may only be one signing made for the Toffees in this area of the pitch.

With James Garner as one of the defensive midfielders and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the attacking midfield position, Hayden Hackney could be the only starter added to the group.

The club have agreed a £25m deal with Middlesbrough to sign the former England U21 international after he won the Championship Player of the Season award for the 2025/26 campaign.

Hackney has the potential to offer a threat at the top end of the pitch with goals and assists, whilst playing in a deep-lying midfield position, but he can also stick his foot in to make tackles and interceptions when needed.

Having Garner, Hackney, and Dewsbury-Hall, who are all technical midfielders, could set up the team to play with more composure and dominance in possession, allowing the attacking players further up the pitch to shine.

The attack

Now for the exciting part, the attack. Everton did not have a single player who hit double figures for goals or assists in the Premier League last term, which suggests that they need to splash the cash to bolster their options in the final third.

Whilst Iliman Ndiaye, who produced six goals and three assists in the division, could keep his place and play on the left of the attack, there could be signings made on the right and in the centre-forward role.

On the right wing, Everton have been linked with an interest in West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen, who worked with Moyes at the London Stadium and is currently valued at £50m.

The England international has consistently proven his quality at the top level during his time with the Hammers and would arrive as a significant upgrade on what Everton have at their disposal, as he produced more goals and more assists than any of them last term.

If the Toffees are seriously prepared to splash the cash, they could partner Bowen with a £43m-rated striker by signing reported target Folarin Balogun from Monaco.

The former Arsenal youngster scored 19 goals in all competitions in the 2025/26 campaign, including 13 in Ligue 1, and has followed that up with three goals at the World Cup for the USA.

Meanwhile, Thierno Barry scored eight goals and Beto scored nine goals in the Premier League for the Toffees last term, which suggests that the American striker would represent a significant upgrade on both of them to be Moyes’ starting number nine.

Overall, Everton could make five additions to their squad, in Wan-Bissaka, Stones, Hackney, Bowen, and Balogun, and their reported fees could total a whopping £138m.

Whilst it remains to be seen whether or not the club are willing or able to splash that kind of money, it would be a dream summer that could finally see them compete for European places once again.

Dream Everton starting line-up for the 2026/27 campaign: (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Wan-Bissaka, Stones, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Hackney; Bowen, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Balogun