Everton have thrown money at numerous players over the years, many of whom failed to become stars on Merseyside. However, the Toffees also earned big fees and sold themselves to the Premier League’s best.
But who is the record holder in the departure of the club? We take a look at Everton’s most expensive sales in their history, with the help of newspaper reports and Transfermarktwith details of the top 10.
|
Everton’s most expensive sale of all time |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Player |
Fee |
Sold |
Year |
|
1 |
Romelu Lukaku |
75 million pounds |
Man Utd |
in 2017 |
|
2 |
Richarlison |
60 million pounds |
Tottenham |
in 2022 |
|
3 |
Amadou Onana |
50 million pounds |
Aston Villa |
in 2024 |
|
4 |
John Stones |
47.5 million pounds |
Man City |
2016 |
|
5 |
Anthony Gordon |
45 million pounds |
Newcastle |
in 2023 |
|
6 |
Idrissa Gueye |
30 million pounds |
PSG |
in 2019 |
|
7 |
Marouane Fellaini |
27.5 million pounds |
Man Utd |
in 2013 |
|
8 |
Wayne Rooney |
27 million pounds |
Man Utd |
in 2004 |
|
=9 |
Moise Kean |
25 million pounds |
Juventus |
in 2023 |
|
=9 |
Lucas Digne |
25 million pounds |
Aston Villa |
in 2022 |
|
11 |
Ademola Lookman |
22.5 million pounds |
RB Leipzig |
in 2019 |
|
=12 |
Alex Iwobi |
22 million pounds |
Fulham |
in 2023 |
|
=12 |
Joleon Lescott |
22 million pounds |
Man City |
in 2009 |
|
14 |
Ross Barkley |
15 million pounds |
Chelsea |
in 2018 |
|
15 |
Nikola Vlasic |
14 million pounds |
CSKA Moscow |
in 2019 |
|
=16 |
Henry Onyekuru |
12 million pounds |
Monaco |
in 2019 |
|
=16 |
Davy Klaassen |
12 million pounds |
Werder Bremen |
in 2018 |
|
=16 |
Jack Rodwell |
12 million pounds |
Man City |
2012 |
|
19 |
Gerard Deulofeu |
10.6 million pounds |
Barcelona |
in 2017 |
|
20 |
Andy Johnson |
10.5 million pounds |
Fulham |
in 2008 |
Here’s a detailed look at Everton’s top 10 sales…
10
Lucas Digne
£25m for Aston Villa, 2022
Everton gave left-back Lucas Digne his first taste of English football back in 2018 after signing him from Barcelona.
The Frenchman made more than 100 appearances for the Toffees in a three-and-a-half-year stay before the club cashed in on his move to Aston Villa, their Premier League rivals allocating £25 million.
9
Moise Kean
£25m for Juventus, 2023
Striker Moise Kean was brought to Everton from Juventus in 2019 as a teenager and has struggled to adapt to life in England.
The Italian scored a handful of goals for the Toffees and was loaned out to PSG and Juventus, with a permanent return somehow coming in 2023 with Everton making a small profit with sales of £25 million.
8
Wayne Rooney
£27m for Man Utd, 2004
Wayne Rooney burst onto the scene in 2002 as an Everton star, breaking numerous records before he did sold to Manchester United in 2004 for £27m.
The striker became Man Utd’s record holder, winning multiple awards under Sir Alex Ferguson. Rooney returned to Everton in 2017 as he ended his Premier League career where it began.
7
Marouane Fellaini
£27.5m to Man Utd, 2013
Everton won the race to sign Marouane Fellaini from Standard Liege in 2008, and the transfer proved to be an excellent deal, with the Belgian’s physical presence an instant hit in the Premier League.
Fellaini then reunited with David Moyes at Man Utd in 2013 for a big fee as the Toffees went on to negotiate a £27.5m exit at the end of that transition period.
6
Idrissa Gueye
£30m for PSG, 2019
Central midfielder Idrissa Gueye first joined Everton in 2016 from Aston Villa and the Toffees made a big splash when PSG came calling in 2019. signed the Senegalese star for around £30m.
Gueye returned to Everton from PSG three years later for a bargain fee, so this one can be seen as a successful deal.
5
Anthony Gordon
£45m for Newcastle, 2023
The departure of Everton graduate Anthony Gordon did not go down well with the Toffees faithful in 2023, but the club have brought in a tempting fee.
Gordon helped Everton stay in the Premier League in 2022, but six months later he moved to £45m St James’ Park halfway through the 2022/23 campaign.
4
John Stones
£47.5m for Man City, 2016
Everton struck gold with John Stones after signing him from Barnsley in 2013.
Stones would later become a Toffees regular, catching the eye of Manchester City, who paid more than 10 times the amount Everton paid to sign him in 2016, with his the final price is £47.5 million.
3
Amadou Onana
£50m for Aston Villa, 2024
Central midfielder Amadou Onana spent just two seasons at struggling Everton but made quite the impact at Aston Villa spend £50m on him in 2024.
Onana has since gone on to play in the Champions League for Villa, taking his Everton appearances to just 72. His move does, however, indicate decent scouting by the Toffees’ recruitment team.
2
Richarlison
£60m for Tottenham, 2022
A fan favorite during his four-year spell at Everton, Richarlison swapped the Toffees for Tottenham in 2022.
The Brazilian forward made more than 150 appearances in blue, and Everton also cashed in on their former star when he sold to Spurs, with the Lilywhites shelling out £60m for the striker.
1
Romelu Lukaku
£75m for Man Utd, 2017
Comfortably top of the list as Everton’s record sale is Romelu Lukaku, who starred at Goodison Park between 2013 and 2017.
The Belgian first moved to Merseyside on loan from Chelsea before sealing a then-record permanent transfer. Lukaku scored regularly for the Toffees which resulted in Man Utd and Jose Mourinho splashing the cash.
He moved to Old Trafford in a move that could have reached £90m, but given his time at United he failed to reach the heights expected, the deal an initial fee of £75m is most likely a more accurate sum.
