Why Everton were right not to go for Harry Wilson

(Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

Last week, Leeds United confirmed the signing of Harry Wilson on a free transfer.

The Wales international refused a new deal at Fulham, who he had joined permanently from Liverpool back in 2022.

Wilson had never established himself at Liverpool — in fact, he didn’t manage to make a league appearance during his time at Anfield. However, he’d impressed in various loan spells, lastly at Fulham in the 2021-22 season.

He scored 11 goals and provided 20 assists that campaign, with the Cottagers regaining promotion to the Premier League, so it was no surprise to see Fulham pull the trigger on signing him on a four-year deal.

Between 2022-23 and 2024-25, Wilson made 103 appearances across all competitions for Fulham, but only 52 of those were starts. Essentially, he was a squad player, and he registered 14 goals and 13 assists across those three seasons.

Yet last term, Wilson enjoyed the best campaign of his career.

In 41 games, with 34 of those being starts, Wilson netted 11 goals and laid on 8 assists. He created 46 chances for his team-mates, as he proved himself as both a reliable scorer and creator of goals.

The irony is, Wilson could have ended up at Leeds last September, had a deadline-day move not fallen through, with Fulham pulling the plug on purchasing Tyrique George from Chelsea late in the window.

Given he was out of contract at the end of the season, and delaying signing a new one, it was natural that Wilson would attract interest, and in January, several clubs were open to making a move at the right price.

One of those were Everton, and it is understood the Toffees were willing to strike a deal at around the £8M mark. Fulham, however, wanted more, and Everton’s transfer committee were not willing to match that valuation for a then 28-year-old heading into the final six months of his contract.

Instead, Everton moved for George on loan. Now, Wilson would have provided more of the instant impact David Moyes craved, but it is understood the committee — Moyes included — were all on the same page in not pushing the boat out on him in January.

But come May and June, there were plenty of links between Everton and Wilson.

That deal was there to be done, and Everton were seemingly aware of what would be required to get Wilson in. Wilson was keen on a move back towards his north Wales roots, while Aston Villa were another team credited with a serious interest.

However, his wage demands were always likely to prove a hurdle, and while Wilson did have a fantastic campaign last year, it should be noted he only provided 3 assists and scored just once between the start of February and the end of the season.

Leeds, reportedly, were willing to pay Wilson around £120,000 per week, no doubt with a healthy signing-on fee, too. Everton, it seems, were simply not willing to go to that.

And that, at least in this writer’s opinion, shows that Moyes is not the only one steering the ship, too.

If Moyes had his way, I have few doubts Everton would have pushed more for Wilson. Whether they’d have gone all the way to £120,000 per week is another thing altogether.

But despite the concerns of plenty of fans that the club will be bowing to Moyes’ wants and demands, the evidence continues to show the opposite, for the most part.

Wilson, ironically, would have offered what Everton need in a right winger. A real goal threat, a creative force and a natural left-footer, who is also able to play behind the striker. He has plenty of Premier League experience and is capable of the spectacular. An ideal replacement and upgrade on Dwight McNeil, for example.

However, the price wasn’t right, and Everton were right not to blink.

Perhaps it will come back to bite Everton, and Leeds have got a good player, but if the deal is just not there to be done on favourable terms, then unless the player provides an absolute guaranteed level of performance that would transform the team, it’s just not worth it, especially when there are other positions that are in much more need.

Mark Ryan 1 Posted 14/07/2026 at 08:59:36

We should have signed him, simple as that... but we never learn. He's hitting good form and coming north to Everton would have suited him well.

In other news, Lucas Digne off to Paris St Germain, who knew?

John Collins 2 Posted 14/07/2026 at 09:04:56

Why Everton were right not to go for Harry Wilson.

11 goals scored and 8 assists in 34 starts.

Everton have no time for positive players who score and assist, and possibly affect the stability?

Mihir Ambardekar 3 Posted 14/07/2026 at 09:16:53

He is a massive upgrade on McNeil & Murphy who we are being linked with.

'The price wasn’t right'?

There was no price.

Of course we should have paid his wages for a couple of years at least, but hey-ho what do I know, Jacob Murphy is apparently a better option.

HW had the season of his life in 2025-26 but I despair of the lazy stuff on the original HW thread - it's one season, he's red shite, did nothing before last season, and so on.

So, no hint them that this coming season will be a continuation?

And, by the way, what is the value of this meaningless backward-looking thread with zero significance for our future?

'Everton's reluctance to overpay for Harry Wilson shows Moyes is not the only one steering the ship'.

You cannot 'overpay' when there is no fee.

Please give us solid evidence for why this shows that 'Moyes is not the only one steering the ship'. Evidence please.

Yet another thread to try to keep the clicks coming.

And I just contributed.

Craig Walker 5 Posted 14/07/2026 at 09:24:49

This was a no-brainer but you think he wasn't right for Everton. I disagree. The kind of player we are crying out for.

Established Premier League player who can shoot and cross and was on a free transfer. He'll do well at Leeds. Another one we have missed out on.

Harry Diamond 6 Posted 14/07/2026 at 09:29:21

Think you're being a bit harsh there, Paul..

You cannot 'overpay' when there is no fee.

That's not true. 'Free' agents come with inflated wages, agent's fees and signing-on fees, all of which count towards SCR in the new rules.

I think Wilson would have been a clear upgrade for what it's worth (and so does Pat by his comments), but I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest the club were right not to overpay for a player who turns 30 next season, especially with the financial rule changes.

Paul Griffiths 7 Posted 14/07/2026 at 09:41:17

Harry, you know what I mean. It was a free transfer. Wilson is 29. Murphy is 31 and will be 32 in January, and had a shite 2025-26, unlike Wilson. Wilson would have been a steal and agent's and signing fees would have been hardly an obstacle, according to Leeds at any rate,

MInd you, Leeds do have I think it is 6 current Welsh internationals before Wilson boyo.

Mark Steers 8 Posted 14/07/2026 at 09:43:04

The problem is, people who don't know about stats are blind.

I've worked in top sport for 40 years and I've spent many nights looking at stats and they are the only thing that are true. If Everton continue to score 40 to 50 goals a season, then they will be in the bottom half no matter how good your keeper or defence is -- that's a fact.

Wilson scored 11 goals in the Premier League for Fulham... wow! This simply cannot be ignored. Well done to Leeds, they have just eliminated any fears of relegation and it gives them more freedom to move forward.

Garner, Rohl, Hackney, Armstrong, McNiel, Iroegbunam, Ndiaye, George.... 8 players who might not score 11 between them -- it is amazing.

Ian Bennett 10 Posted 14/07/2026 at 10:03:49

Agree Mark.

The lack of players who will score has dogged Everton over the Premier League era, because invariably we haven't had the money to buy it.

Wilson is a tidy footballer, scores goals and his pay packet is pretty chunky. I thought it was a deal that should have been done, and if that meant moving on players who deliver nothing, then so be it.

Non-goalscoring attacking players eat budget, for what reason?

Sean Mitchell 11 Posted 14/07/2026 at 10:53:40

Quality player on a free. But he's too attacking for the dour one.

Stabilty, remember.... Same old Everton.

Ian Wilkins 12 Posted 14/07/2026 at 11:16:14

Should have done this one, unless there's a better option.

Murphy isn't the better option.

Karl Jones 13 Posted 14/07/2026 at 11:32:07

Far too good for the Everton cheapskates...

Even though the club have raised their ambitions from "happy to stay up" to "avoiding the relegation fight altogether".

Andrew Ellams 14 Posted 14/07/2026 at 11:44:46

But what if Leeds have signed the player who was a fringe player making very little impact at Fulham or anywhere until last season?

Most of us are old enough to have seen many players have one purple patch season in an otherwise average career. We've signed some of them, that means you James Beattie.

Dave Abrahams 15 Posted 14/07/2026 at 11:55:00

Mark (8),

Those stats about scoring goals are facts as well as stats and I think Garner, Ndiaye and Hackney scored 15 between them last season -- going against the argument you surmised in your last two lines.

I wasn't against Wilson coming here, to be honest.

Mark Steers 16 Posted 14/07/2026 at 11:57:39

Everton's problem is we don't have players aged between 25 to 30. These are your players who have good experience and are getting to their prime.

We have young players and old players; the young players don't know how to get through 100 minutes and the old players just plod on like we saw at the end of last season.

We should've sent Spurs down last season but the manager and players had all gassed out. We will be okay this season but that's about all we will be.

I worry the owners have no interest in Everton... I think they're just making money out of the stadium and the team is secondary -- it should be the other way around.

Mark Steers 17 Posted 14/07/2026 at 12:03:20

Dave @15.

Ndiaye scored 4 penalties in his 8 goals and Hackney scored in the Championship; good luck there. Garner I think 2 maybe.

As I said, we have to find 50+ goals to move forward. Oh, by the way, Ndiaye might not be with us for much longer, Dave.

Tony Abrahams 18 Posted 14/07/2026 at 12:06:28

David Moyes, will also be very aware that he needs at least one midfielder scoring goals because his system rarely allows his centre forward to get more than 15 goals a season.

That is a very interesting stat, Mark, because although I am of the opinion that a lot of stats are overrated, there are also certain stats that simply cannot be overlooked. We did qualify for the champions league one season with a very low goal average, but if we are to concede an average of a goal a game, then we definitely need to start scoring more goals, if we are to start pushing higher up the table.

The biggest single stat that simply cannot be ignored imo, is the one that those bastards across the park keep taunting us with, especially because it keeps going up year after fucking year. Come fifteenth and win a trophy, because winning a trophy should be the ultimate aim, at the start of every single season that we play.

Eric Myles 19 Posted 14/07/2026 at 13:36:30

Sean #11, you do realise that after stability comes consolodation don't you?

John Collins 20 Posted 14/07/2026 at 13:52:15

CONSOLIDATION Eric? A new one to add to the never ending stability some seek?

Jimmy Salt 21 Posted 14/07/2026 at 14:02:50

Ifs, buts and maybe's – maybe he just wanted to go to Leeds.

Steve Brown 22 Posted 14/07/2026 at 14:10:55

Think Moyes is consolidating stabilty to stabilise our consolidation.

Christy Ring 23 Posted 14/07/2026 at 14:36:02

Wilson is roughly £6M per year, add agents fees etc, it would still be no more than £10M all in.

A proven scorer with a magical left foot, so what part of £10M is not a good deal? How much will it cost to buy a winger?

Kevin Molloy 24 Posted 14/07/2026 at 14:51:20

If the writer is right and the committee is spiking Moyes's picks, we'd better hope Angus and his mates know what they are doing.

Moyes has 25 years of top line recruitment, Angus has….?

Jay Harris 25 Posted 14/07/2026 at 15:37:07

It is obvious to a blind man that Wilson wanted to go to Leeds to be with his Welsh mates.

Before we start lambasting Moyes and the "recruitment" team, let's see what they come up with preseason.

Michael Burke 26 Posted 14/07/2026 at 16:27:00

Jack Harrison mark II. He actually only scored 10 PL goals last season and 12 in the previous 3 season. He is 30 next season. For comparison Harrison scored 21 goals in the 3 season before he joined Everton so was actually more prolific! Can we also consider that he didn't want to come to Everton.

Dave Abrahams 27 Posted 14/07/2026 at 16:49:51

Mark(17)Don’t penalties count? A few of the top scorers in the World Cup would have to see their count lowered and players in the championship who are on their way up certainly count in my eyes, concede Garner- - one of his goals was v Sunderland in the FA cup.

Nevertheless you named 8:players who you said might not score 15 goals between them and I named 3 who scored 14 and the other five you named never got an awful lot of chances to play!

Mike Gaynes 28 Posted 14/07/2026 at 17:36:57

Harry Wilson, stats. Okay.

For the three seasons preceding the last, he had a total of 12 goals and 14 assists in about 3800 minutes. A goal involvement every 146 minutes. Decent.

Last season, first 12 games, 2 goals, 0 assists. (We were laughing at how ineffectual he was against us. He was subbed off on 59 minutes.)

Next 17 games, 7 goals, 6 assists, terrific purple patch. (Although again totally ineffectual against us.)

Last 9 games, one goal, one assist.

So this big reputation is based on half of one season out of the last four.

Maybe that long stretch last winter was the real Harry Wilson and Leeds bagged a star. But I can certainly understand why Everton didn't want to pay £120K/year.

Mark Steers 29 Posted 14/07/2026 at 17:56:00

Penalties hide poor goalscorers in my eyes. Ndiaye scored 4 from open play, which I think is poor. If we get offered big money I would drive him to his next club.

Hackney I hope scores goals for us but don't hold your breath. No one from the Championship who comes scores goals that I can see.

Dave, you're clutching at straws. You see, I know Everton's only hope is Jordan and the defence. Enjoy.

Si Cooper 31 Posted 14/07/2026 at 19:17:34

“But despite the concerns of plenty of fans that the club will be bowing to Moyes' wants and demands, the evidence continues to show the opposite, for the most part.”

I think that is the complete opposite to what a lot of fans think.

My worry is that Moyes will be retained for the remainder of his contract for ‘stability' (which isn't the be-all and end-all if you could replace it with any level of ‘improvement') whilst the club recruit players that meet some long-term vision but won't necessarily meld well with the manager's approach.

Then it's a waiting game to see if the young players have the patience to bide their time and wait for the anticipated change. That's a mistake I've made a few times in my career, waiting for the ‘inevitable' improvements only to find the executives ultimately lack the foresight/ desire for continuous improvement when stagnation has the appeal of seemingly costing them nothing.

John Collins 32 Posted 14/07/2026 at 19:35:49

Stability. It's a timid approach Si, a scared to act mentality. Paralysis by analysis

Ian Bennett 33 Posted 14/07/2026 at 19:37:08

Tend to agree with you Mike. He is a tidy player, but a 4 year contract at nearly 30 & £120k a week is a bit rich for him.

Tielemans looks like another. Nearly 30, £35m transfer fee and a 5 year contract on big momey. They've not learnt after Casemiro.

Daniel Thomas 34 Posted 14/07/2026 at 20:46:19

‘A proven scorer’. LOL.

Jack Harrison comparison is the most accurate comment on this thread.

Dave Abrahams 35 Posted 14/07/2026 at 21:07:15

Mark (28) Well if you know what you think you know we are in for another miserable season.

I think Ndiaye will go for big money although I want him to stay and I’ll wait to see how this transfer window goes before I make any predictions before that because unlike you I haven’t got a clue what is going to happen.

Mike Gaynes 36 Posted 15/07/2026 at 02:17:20

Dave, I don't think Ndiaye will go at all, unless somebody comes in with some truly silly money. The club is in full control, with zero incentive to sell at this point, and the player has not handed in a transfer request.

That he's not in a hurry to commit beyond 2029 should not be a surprise. He may just be waiting to see what kind of club we build around him this summer.

Paul Griffiths 37 Posted 15/07/2026 at 03:39:33

Mark Steers 29: 'Penalties hide poor goalscorers in my eyes'.

What an absurd statement.

Paul Griffiths 38 Posted 15/07/2026 at 05:13:26

Something not yet pointed out was that Wilson was much more of a regular starter last season

Steve Brown 39 Posted 15/07/2026 at 06:15:07

Mark @ 29, someone had better tell Harry Kane he is a poor goal-scorer!

Paul Griffiths 40 Posted 15/07/2026 at 06:17:14

Messi Steve? Bob Latchford?

Eric Myles 41 Posted 15/07/2026 at 09:01:56

John #20, consolidation is the new stability.

First you stabilise, and then to maintain that stability you consolidate your position. Then when the consolidation is effective you then look at progress.

And consolidation means, expect a contract extension for Moyes unless he seriously fucks up by Christmas.

Dave Abrahams 43 Posted 15/07/2026 at 10:23:52

Mike (36) I hope you are right Mike but if he doesn’t sign a new contract that is agreeable to him and his agent then he is losing an awful lot of money and it wouldn’t be a big surprise if some club, and there are a few very interested, came in with an offer of £60M and I think that would suit both Everton, Ndiaye and his agent.I want him to stay and if he goes there is more reason to believe that Grealish is coming back and that wouldn’t suit me!