Everton To Compete With Tottenham For €25M Defensive Midfielder: The Right Man For The Toffees?

Everton are the latest club to join the scramble for Youssouf Fofana, with the Toffees reportedly ready to battle Aston Villa and Tottenham for the French international. According to Calciomercato reporter Daniele Longo, Fofana is high on the list of players expected to leave AC Milan this summer, and the Italian giants are willing to do business for anything north of €25 million.

Everton join the hunt for Milan’s Youssouf Fofana

While Galatasaray, Lyon, and Marseille have all been linked, Fofana has apparently made it clear he isn’t interested in a move to Turkey, favouring a switch to the Premier League instead. His representatives are now pushing for a move to England, and Everton’s interest adds a fresh twist to the saga.

So far in the 2025/26 Serie A campaign, Fofana has managed two goals and three assists in 1,990 minutes of action. He’s picked up four yellows and currently holds a 6.83 FotMob rating, which is a solid enough number for a player under the microscope at the San Siro.

Is Fofana the right fit for Everton’s midfield?

Everton
VERONA, ITALY – APRIL 19: Youssouf Fofana of AC Milan during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and AC Milan at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on April 19, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Honestly, the answer is a bit of a mixed bag, and that is important. Fofana is excellent at driving the ball forward and has a great eye for transitions. Everton have been crying out for these two traits in the middle of the park. That ability to carry the ball through the lines gives them an added quality that standard holding midfielders don’t have.

That said, the flak he’s caught at Milan this season hasn’t come out of thin air. Fofana can be a bit lax in his defensive coverage and tends to leave gaps behind him when he ventures forward. Even Massimiliano Allegri, who reportedly wants to keep him, has seen those lapses hurt the team more than once.

Since Everton have spent most of the season focusing on defensive shape, finding the right partner for Fofana would be vital. Still, at under €25 million, you’re getting a full French international in his mid-twenties for a bargain. Everton would be wise to make a move fast before Villa or Spurs beat them to it; Fofana’s upside actually makes him an ideal fit for David Moyes’ system, better than many might think.