Is Pape Gueye the signing to complete Everton’s midfield?

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Everton are reportedly nearing an agreement to sign Pape Gueye from Villarreal for a fee in the region of £28m.

Gueye has been a name on Everton’s radar for some time, with Spanish outletFichajes, albeit of questionable reliability, now reporting that an agreement between the Blues and the midfielder has been reached.

It follows reports from other outlets, including Marca, that Gueye had been a leading summer target for David Moyes. A transfer fee of an initial €28m (£23.8m) with a further €5m (£4.2m) in add-ons has been discussed between the clubs.

Should the move materialise, it should be considered a coup for an Everton side without European football. Villarreal rejected offers in the region of €40m for Gueye in January, with Galatasaray among his suitors. The Senegal international opted to turn down a transfer in favour of seeing out the season at El Madrigal.

The 27-year-old was an integral part of Villarreal’s Champions League qualification last season and has been an outstanding performer for club and country in recent years.

He was named in the AFCON Team of the Tournament earlier this year, alongside Idrissa Gueye, as Senegal secured the title before the controversy of being stripped. It was Gueye’s fine finish in extra-time that decided the final on the field, concluding a fantastic tournament for the midfielder, who led the knockout stages for shots (16), shots on target (9) and goals (3). This summer, he scored twice and assisted another for Senegal at the 2026 World Cup.

His mid-season showings for Senegal were the continuation of good form at club level. Gueye scored five goals in 26 league starts for The Yellow Submarine, and produced some encouraging numbers with his distribution. Gueye ranked in the top five midfielders in La Liga last season for forward pass ratio (3rd), through passes completed (3rd), progressive passes (4th), and long passes completed (5th) per 90 minutes.

For a predominantly defensive-minded midfielder, Gueye’s ball-winning numbers are unremarkable. But with James Garner excelling in that area last season, Gueye’s athleticism and ability to cover the ground with long-legged strides look an ideal complement to last season’s Player of the Year. With Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Hayden Hackney buzzing around ahead of that axis, and Merlin Röhl offering further dynamism, it’s a midfield makeup that looks exciting.

In his prime years, at a comparatively modest fee given the sums spent on midfielders elsewhere, it’s a potential deal that makes sense for Everton.

Reader Comments (11)

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Paul Hewitt 2 Posted 22/07/2026 at 14:27:55

This is old transfer news. Unlikely to happen.

Harry Diamond 3 Posted 22/07/2026 at 14:44:50

The report from Fichajes that he's reached an agreement with Everton is from today, Paul.

I guess we'll see on reliability but a positive move if true.

David West 4 Posted 22/07/2026 at 15:16:43

It's exactly the type of midfielder we need, up & down scores creates, powerful, our midfield may have some nice ball players now, but ive thought we are a bit lightweight, this would make a big difference.

Hope it's not another bullshit one though, or we just get bummed by another PL club in Europe paying bigger wages that steals him.

Jack Convery 5 Posted 22/07/2026 at 15:18:35

Er, any sign of a right back ? A good signing imo, if it happens. I'm sure Gana Gueye has told him all about Everton and the fan base.

David West 6 Posted 22/07/2026 at 15:25:07

I'd imagine every club, agent players nans know Everton are desperate for a RB. They will be sticking high prices on anyone we show intrest in, patience is needed, the world cup just finished and we all know the domino effect, once the huge spenders blow their load they need to off load.

Should have got spence before WC, few million extra now !!

Paul Hewitt 7 Posted 22/07/2026 at 15:29:44

Rico Lewis. I really don't understand why he hasn't been signed yet

Andrew Ellams 8 Posted 22/07/2026 at 15:42:28

So many of these names are just media rumours so when they haven't signed a couple of weeks down the line there's probably a good reason for it.

Ian Bennett 9 Posted 22/07/2026 at 15:43:21

Because Paul, city are probably waiting to sign a replacement before they sanction an exit. They're in control here, and the other 4 or 5 clubs interested will need to be patient.

Andrew Ellams 10 Posted 22/07/2026 at 15:46:10

David @ 4, he's a good player but don't get too excited about his goals. His career average including internationals is around 1 in 14.

Tom Bowers 11 Posted 22/07/2026 at 15:55:04

Obviously the squad wasn't good enough last season and for quite a few seasons before that so if we have outgoings then we need incomings assuming they will improve things. A few names have been mentioned for the chop so now with a few weeks before the start of the new season let's all hope the full back situation is resolved and possibly the quality striker we crave for.