Everton have spent another summer searching for the right back David Moyes has wanted for more than a year.
It is an obvious hole in the squad after Seamus Coleman brought his remarkable 17-year stay with the club to an end in May.
Jake O’Brien filled the position for long stretches last season, although the Republic of Ireland international is naturally a centre back and remains better suited to the middle of the defence.
Nathan Patterson is the only senior specialist currently available, but the Scotland international has struggled to establish himself as a regular since arriving from Rangers in January 2022.
|
Everton right-back targets this summer |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Player |
2025/26 club |
Apps |
Goals |
Assists |
Goal contributions |
Where they are now |
|
Óscar Mingueza |
Celta Vigo |
47 |
1 |
6 |
7 |
Joined Crystal Palace on a free transfer |
|
Djed Spence |
Tottenham |
44 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Joined Inter Milan permanently |
|
Raoul Bellanova |
Atalanta |
36 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
Remains at Atalanta |
|
Juanlu Sánchez |
Sevilla |
35 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
Remains at Sevilla |
|
Guéla Doué |
Strasbourg |
34 |
2 |
7 |
9 |
Remains at Strasbourg |
|
Georgios Vagiannidis |
Sporting CP |
33 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
Remains at Sporting CP |
|
Ben White |
Arsenal |
30 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Remains at Arsenal |
|
Brooke Norton-Cuffy |
Genoa |
29 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
Remains at Genoa |
|
Aaron Wan-Bissaka |
West Ham |
27 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
Aston Villa loan agreed, with a permanent option |
|
Rico Lewis |
Man City |
22 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
Remains at Man City |
|
Héctor Fort |
Elche |
17 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
Returned to Barcelona after his loan |
|
Alistair Johnston |
Celtic |
11 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Remains at Celtic |
That has left Everton looking across several markets for a player who can make the role his own.
Brooke Norton-Cuffy has been discussed after his progress with Genoa, while Celtic defender Alistair Johnston and West Ham’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka were also options at points this summer, though the latter is now joining Aston Villa.
The search has included younger players as well, and Héctor Fort fits that part of the plan.
Everton were linked with the Barcelona defender late in the 2025 summer window, only for Fort to join Elche on a season-long loan without an option to buy.
The 20-year-old is now back in Catalonia after gaining more senior experience in La Liga, but his route into Hansi Flick’s team still looks blocked.
Jules Koundé, Eric García and academy graduate Xavi Espart are all ahead of him in the right back queue, leaving Barcelona ready to find a permanent solution.
Fort’s age, technical education at La Masia and ability to operate on either side of the defence make him an interesting option for Everton, although he would arrive with no Premier League experience.
Everton have now been told what it could take to turn that long-standing interest into a deal.
Everton told bargain Hector Fort price as Barça make him train alone
According to Sport, with the claims relayed by Sport Witness, Barcelona have placed a £13 million price on Fort and want his future resolved by the end of this week or early next week.
The report states that Everton, Fulham and Borussia Dortmund are the foreign clubs monitoring the situation, but none have yet submitted an official offer.
Real Sociedad and Elche had also explored bringing Fort back to La Liga, although Barcelona were not interested in another loan.
A £13 million deal sits well below some of the larger prices quoted for other Everton targets, but Fort would still represent a bet on development rather than a proven Premier League answer.
The situation could shift quickly if Barça soften their demands even more, particularly with the Catalan club so keen to complete a sale in the coming days.
Their desperation to offload Fort is clear by their brutal decision to make the young defender train alone, sending a clear message that he has no long-term future at the Camp Nou.
