Everton Are Not First In Line For £25m Player: Will He Suit Under David Moyes? | OneFootball

Everton made discreet enquiries over Nottingham Forest full-back Neco Williams this summer, joining a cluster of Premier League clubs monitoring the Welsh defender. However, the club’s former chief executive, Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, put cold water on the idea that Everton would push hard for him. Wyness stated clearly that he does not see Williams as someone who will dramatically alter the squad’s quality or trajectory.

Everton are not leading the race for Williams, says former CEO

Nottingham Forest responded to the growing interest by opening talks with Williams over an improved contract, despite the 25-year-old already being contracted to the City Ground until June 2029. Williams finished the 2025–26 season with two goals and three assists across 35 Premier League appearances, contributing steadily without ever seizing headlines.

He captained Forest for the first time last weekend and featured in the squad eliminated by Aston Villa at the Europa League semi-final stage. Alongside Everton, Aston Villa, Manchester United, and Newcastle United all registered interest in the Welshman, making the race a genuinely crowded one. Wyness acknowledged that monitoring a player costs nothing, yet insisted the club’s real priority targets lie elsewhere and that Williams carries little promise of a meaningful upgrade.

“I don’t see Neco being a game changer for the squad. Monitoring him is one thing. I don’t think he’ll be the one that Everton get, but he’s not one that I think is going to dramatically change the squad. While he’s obviously a talented, quick player as well, I don’t see that one happening.”

Does Williams suit Everton under David Moyes?

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – MAY 10: Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates Neco Williams and Nikola Milenkovic during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United at City Ground on May 10, 2026 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

I do feel yes, not convincingly. Williams is a naturally right-footed player operating at left-back, and that positional mismatch catches up with him in tight moments. He committed 0.80 fouls per 90 minutes this season and collected seven yellow cards and one red card across 35 appearances, which points to a player who compensates with physicality when caught out of position. His crossing accuracy of 20.1% is also telling; he gets into crossing positions but rarely makes them count.

David Moyes builds his teams around defensive structure and positional discipline. Jake O’Brien has been filling in at right-back for Everton, averaging 1.6 tackles, 3.1 ball recoveries, and four clearances per game, numbers that reflect the kind of dependable, low-risk profile Moyes typically prefers. Williams brings more pace and more ambition going forward, but Everton’s system does not necessarily reward those qualities the way a higher-pressing side would.

Everton intend to strengthen at full-back as one of their top priorities this summer, with the Friedkin Group backing David Moyes in the transfer market regardless of European qualification. That situation suggests they need a genuine upgrade, not a sideways step. Williams, at his current level, feels like the latter. Wyness is right. Everton should keep looking.